Opposition voiced to Dalai's visit to China-India border region

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-03 21:10

BEIJING: China firmly opposes the Dalai Lama's planned visit to a China-India border region, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman here Tuesday.

"China's stance on the eastern section of the China-India border is consistent, and we firmly oppose the Dalai Lama's visit to the region," said Ma Zhaoxu at a regular news briefing.

"This further exposes the Dalai clique's anti-China and separatist nature," said Ma.

Ma said the Dalai Lama keeps lying and being engaged in damaging relations between China and other countries, but his attempt "will not succeed."

Ma said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have recently held talks and agreed to push forward bilateral ties in a healthy and stable manner, which "is consensus of the people of the two countries as well as the two leaders."

In addition, Ma also called on India to "provide convenience" for Chinese workers applying for employment visa in accordance with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on simplifying visa procedures.

A new visa policy, issued in mid-July, has affected expatriates working in India on a business visa, which previously had been allowed for a wider range of occupations and employees.

Approximately 25,000 Chinese workers in such sectors as power generation, communication and petroleum in India will be affected by the new policy, according to India's media reports.

"With regard to the visa issue, China has expressed its concerns to India for many times," said Ma.

Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a notice on its official website, warning Chinese citizens heading to work in India to acquire employment visas first.