China’s decision to meet Dalai’s representative receives positive responses

BEIJING : China has received positive responses after announcing that the central government will meet with the Dalai Lama’s private representative in the coming days, according to Xinhua news agency.
“In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with the Dalai’s private representative in the coming days,” the news agency quoted an official as saying.
“The policy of the central government toward the Dalai has been consistent and the door of dialogue has remained open,” he said.
The United States said Friday it was pleased to hear China’s announcement to resume talks with an envoy of the Dalai Lama very soon.
“We are pleased to hear this,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, “We welcome the news that the Chinese authorities will engage with the Dalai Lama’s representatives.”
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso who was in Beijing expressed happiness with the announcement.
“We are of course very happy with this announcement,” he said, hoping
China’s decision would also help “create a better understanding between China and
Europe.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomes the announcement by the Chinese government of “a renewal of dialogue in the coming days with representatives of the Dalai Lama,” Sarkozy’s office said in a statement.
Germany welcomes China’s offer to meet with the Dalai’s private representative in the coming days.
“We expressly welcome this move,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said. “We hope very much that this can contribute to resolving the conflict in Tibet,” the spokesman added.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said, “I hope that this dialogue will be a success.”
Singapore welcomed the decision of the Chinese government, saying it “ will help maintain stability in Tibet.”
“No one, least of all the Tibetan people, gains from the continuation of tensions and protests and the attempts to link the Tibetan issue with the Beijing Olympic games,” the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.