China on Tuesday expressed resolute opposition to connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympic Games.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks in response to a question concerning French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent comments about the Dalai Lama.
Sarkozy said on Monday he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics if the latest contact between China's central government and the private representatives of the Dalai Lama achieve progress. He would meet with the Dalai Lama in early August.
"The Tibet issue is China's internal affair, and the contact between the central government and the Dalai Lama's private representatives is an internal matter," Liu said.
"We oppose some country leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama in any form, oppose connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympics and politicizing the Olympics," the spokesman said.
The Beijing Olympic Games will be a feast for 1.3 billion Chinese and people around the world, Liu said, adding that to hold a successful Games is the common wish of China as well as the rest of the world.
(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2008)