08 May 2008
Reports on Shenzhen talks
Following the Sino-Tibetan talks held on 04 May 2008 in Shenzen, southern China, between the Dalai Lama's envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen and United Front Work Department officials Zhu Weiqun and Sitar, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing in Beijing "I want to stress that this current contact is only the beginning (...) we agreed to continue with the contact when it is appropriate". "The central government's contact with the Dalai is sincere", Qin said. The meeting in Shenzhen was a "good first step", according to Lodi Gyari, who said he believed a date for the seventh round of Sino-Tibetan dialogue would be finalised soon after mutual consultations. Mr Gyari described the main purpose of the informal meeting as to "discuss the critical situation in Tibet" and as an agreed "meeting of principals without aides". "There were strong and divergent views on the nature as well as the causes of the recent tragic events in Tibet" and "these views were expressed in a frank and candid manner", Mr Gyari said. "Despite major differences on important issues both sides demonstrated a willingness to seek common approaches in addressing the issues at hand", he said referring to the current situation in Tibet. "As a result, an understanding was reached to continue the formal round of discussions", he added. Mr Gyrai said the long relationship with Chinese counterparts for the last several years made it possible to "have open and frank discussions in a friendly and respectful atmosphere".