China's ambassador to France has warned French President Nicolas
Sarkozy against meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama.
Ambassador Kong Quan told reporters Tuesday that a meeting
during the Dalai Lama's visit to France next month would have serious
consequences.
On Wednesday, Mr. Sarkozy is scheduled to meet
with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the Group of Eight
summit in Japan.
The French president has said he will announce this week whether he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Mr. Sarkozy had indicated he might boycott the August 8 ceremony following China's crackdown on Tibetan protests.
Last
week, he said his decision will depend on progress in talks between
representatives of the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials.
Earlier
this year, Chinese demonstrators gathered in major cities to express
anger over the disruption of the Olympic torch relay in Paris - and
France's alleged support for Tibetan independence.
China
routinely protests meetings between world leaders and the Dalai Lama,
whom Beijing says is working for Tibetan independence.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said that he is seeking autonomy, not independence for Tibet.
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