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France reiterates opposition to Tibet independence

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-14 11:12

PARIS -- The French Foreign Ministry reiterated on Friday that France does not support Tibet independence.

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Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier made the remark after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged France to clarify its position on Tibet-related issues.

"We have absolutely not changed our position. That is, we support the territorial integrity of China and refused to accept separatism and Tibet independence," Chevallier said.

Earlier on Friday, when answering a question raised by a reporter from the French newspaper Le Figaro at a press conference after the closing of the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress in Beijing, Premier Wen urged the French side to clarify its position on Tibet-related issues to facilitate the restoration of Sino-French relations.

"This serves not only the interests of both China and France, but also the interests of China and the European Union," Wen said.

Sino-French relations were strained after French President Nicolas Sarkozy insisted on meeting with the Dalai Lama last December when his country held the rotating presidency of the European Union.