China rebuts Dalai Lama's claim

A Chinese central government official Tuesday dismissed the Dalai Lama's claim as being "legal representative" of Tibetans. "The Chinese government and the government of Tibet Autonomous Region under its leadership are the only representatives of Tibetans," Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in a statement to media at a press conference.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, last week in Beijing. The private representatives "have no legal status to discuss with us the affairs about Tibet Autonomous Region," Zhu said. "They are only the Dalai Lama's private representatives, so they can only talk about the prospect of the Dalai Lama, at most, the prospects of a small party around him." The talks were suspended for more than a year after the meeting in November 2008. "The major reason lies in the fact that they (the Dalai Lama side) openly declared to cease the contacts and talks with the Central authorities," Zhu said.

Chinese central gov't holds press conference on talks with Dalai Lama envoys

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office held a press conference Tuesday morning to brief media on the latest talks between central government officials and private representatives of the Dalai Lama. Zhu Weiqun, executive deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is expected to talk about the meeting and answer reporters' questions at the press conference, which started at 10:00 a.m.. Full story Central gov't, Dalai Lama views "sharply divided": official BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese central government and the Dalai Lama side had "sharply divided" views in the latest talks "as usual," a Chinese official said Tuesday. Full story China warns U.S. of detrimental effect of meeting Dalai Lama BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official Tuesday warned of serious damage to Sino-U.S. relations if U.S. leaders were to meet with the Dalai Lama, saying the move would "harm others but bring no profit to itself either." Full story Door for talks with Dalai Lama still open, national sovereignty non-negotiable: CPC official

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities said Monday that the door for contacts and talks remains open to the Dalai Lama, but no concessions would be made on issues concerning national sovereignty. Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, had met with Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, private envoys of the Dalai Lama, in Beijing, said a statement from the department Monday. No exact date was given in the statement. Full story

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-02/02/c_13159959.htm