Beijing: China on Saturday expressed strong
reservation and opposition to the meeting between Mexican
President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa and the Dalai Lama.
"This grossly interferes in China's internal affairs,
hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, and damages
China-Mexico relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Ma Zhaoxu said in a press release here.
Despite strong objections and representations from China,
the Mexican side arranged Calderon's meeting with the Dalai
Lama yesterday, Ma said.
China's Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Mexico
have lodged solemn representations to the Mexican side in
Beijing and Mexico City, he said.
Terming the Tibet issue as China's internal affairs, Ma
said issues regarding Tibet concern China's core interests and
the Chinese people's feelings.
He accused the spiritual leader of being engaged in
secessionist activities in the name of religion for years, and
said China firmly opposes any foreign leaders and government
officials meeting with the Dalai Lama in any form.
"The Mexican leader's meeting with the Dalai Lama went
against the commitments of the Mexican side," he said, urging
the country to take concrete actions to eliminate the negative
impact of the issue and maintain the healthy development of
China-Mexico relations.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 23:22