2008-11-09

A Chinese central government official says recent talks with the Dalai Lama's private representatives were "frank and sincere," but serious differences remain.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council here on Monday.

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.

Zhu, UFWD Vice Minister Sita and Executive Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Pelma Trilek also held talks with them while they were in China from October 31 to November 5.

In talks held in July, the Dalai Lama's representatives said they had no problems following the "four not-to-supports" put forward by the central authorities, but they completely broke that promise, Zhu said.

The four promises include: not supporting activities that disturbed the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games; not supporting plots inciting violent criminal activities; not supporting and concretely curbing violent terrorist activities of the pro-secession "Tibetan Youth Congress"; not supporting any argument and activity seeking "Tibetan independence" and splitting the region from the country.

"They absolutely forgot to carry out their promise and did not stop boycotting and destroying the Beijing Olympics," Zhu said. "Instead, they intensified sabotaging activities and continued to attack the Central Government."

"They supported the 'Tibetan Youth Congress' and other organizations to publicly advocate 'Tibetan independence' and fanned or organized violent criminal activities," Zhu added. "They also continued to set up a claim to internationalize the Tibet issue, trying to make use of foreigners pressuring the central government."

"They continued to collude with such dregs as overseas democracy activists, 'Falungong elements' and 'Eastern Turkistan terrorists', trying to form so-called 'united front work' to oppose the Chinese government and split the motherland," he said. "All of these have caused the Chinese people strong aversion to their actions."

This is the third talk between the central government and the Dalai Lama's private envoys this year. Previous discussions were held in May and July.