China opposes connecting Tibet issue with Beijing Olympics

New Delhi, July 2 : China has expressed resolute opposition to connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympic Games due to be held in August.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao was speaking at a press conference following the announcement of President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan to attend the outreach session of the G8 summit.

Liu Jianchao made the remarks in response to a question concerning French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent comments about the spiritual Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

On Monday, Sarkozy said that 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, Xinhua reported.

"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 politicising 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 the Games successfully is the common wish of China as well as the rest of the world.

ANI