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China opposes Paris mayor awarding Dalai Lama

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-09 22:35

BEIJING - China on Tuesday protested the awarding of "honorary citizen" to the Dalai Lama by Paris mayor, saying it posed "grave interference in Sino-French relations".

"We feel strongly disgruntled and is resolutely opposed to Paris' award for the Dalai Lama, regardless of China's opposition," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

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Earlier reports said that Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe on Sunday met with the Dalai Lama and conferred him a certificate of "honorary citizenship" at a ceremony in Paris.

"This was another overt provocation against we Chinese people after Paris' city council voted last year to give the Dalai Lama 'honorary citizenship'," Qin told a regular press conference.

"Such a move stirs a strong indignation among the Chinese people," Qin said, noting that inevitably, it would severely undermine the cooperation between Paris and related Chinese cities, and gravely disturb China-France relations.

China held a clear, persistent and firm position over Tibet-related issue, which is related to China's core interests and major political concern, he said. This issue was also linked with China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and influenced national emotion.

The China-France relationship was confronted with severe difficulties not long ago due to Tibet-related issues, and now the relationship got back on the track of healthy growth under the joint efforts of peoples with insight from both sides, Qin said.

"We hope France would join with China in cherishing the hard-won achievements in bilateral ties, carefully fulfil related agreements between the two sides, make efforts to remove all disturbance, and promote the healthy and stable development of the relationship," Qin said.

Qin urged Paris to stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and immediately correct its wrongdoing.

This move by Paris government indeed gravely damaged the city's image among the Chinese, Qin said.

A poll on the website of the Global Times found that more than 87 percent of voters firmly opposed to the Paris move, and some people even suggested ending ties between Beijing and Paris.

Paris should bear all the blame, Qin said, urging Paris to take right attitude towards Chinese people's voice, and stop its offence to the Chinese people, in a bid to create essential condition for the cooperation with Chinese cities.