China tries to tone down EU hopes on Tibet before Beijing meetings

Apr 24, 2008, 10:56 GMT

Beijing - China sought Thursday to dampen EU expectations for discussions on Tibet when a European Commission delegation visits this week.

Tibet is a domestic issue that concerns China's 'sovereignty and territorial integrity' and in which 'no country and no organization' may interfere, said Jiang Yu, spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry.

Beijing hopes the European Union would respect that fact and attain a full understanding of China's position on the issue, she said.

Jiang also rebuffed an EU push for dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso plans to 'confront' China on its human rights record, freedom of expression and recent unrest in Tibet, a commission statement said ahead of the delegation's visit to Beijing, which begins Thursday.

Earlier in the day in Tokyo, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also said Tibet would be 'very high on the agenda' when the EU officials visit China.

'We understand the sensitivities on sovereignty in China, but I think it is also fair to ask for the respect of the Tibetan culture and also their traditions,' Kyodo News Agency quoted her as saying.

A few European leaders have expressed their intention to boycott or said they are considering a boycott of the opening ceremony of the August Olympic Games over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet.