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Paris told not to step in China's affairs
By Wang Linyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-08 10:39

China urged the city of Paris to stop interfering in the country's internal affairs Thursday.

"The city of Paris should stop repeating mistakes on Tibet-related issues," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.

The Dalai Lama's spokesman in Paris said the Dalai Lama is very likely to receive the title of "honorary citizen" of the city of Paris early next month, according to AFP.

Paris city council, led by socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe, approved a resolution in April 2008 to award the title to the Dalai Lama, but the French government has distanced itself from the move.

The resolution provoked indignation from the Chinese people last year. "If it awards the title to the Dalai Lama, the Chinese people will strongly oppose it," Ma said.

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Ma reaffirmed that Sino-French relations got back on track through the joint efforts of both countries.

"We hope that France could work with China to remove obstacles and promote and develop bilateral ties in a sound and stable way," Ma said.

Analysts said the city of Paris should act to reduce damage such a move would cause.

"The city of Paris should reflect on its move and minimize its negative impact on ties," said Pang Zhongying, a scholar on international studies at Renmin University of China.

Nuke policy

Responding to Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's recent remarks depicting China as a nuclear threat, Ma said China's nuclear policy and strategy are "very transparent".

"China's stance on nuclear disarmament is obvious to all," he added.

"I don't know what the Japanese leader's purpose is in pointing to China's nuclear policy at this moment," Ma said.