China opposes honorary Paris citizenship for Dalai Lama: Foreign Ministry

Source: Xinhua | 05-07-2009 18:34

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China demanded Thursday that the city of Paris stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the comment in response to a question on the city's decision to give honorary citizenship to the Dalai Lama next month.

The Paris City Council approved a resolution last year to honor the Dalai Lama, which aroused indignation in China, Ma said.

"I want to reaffirm that Sino-French relations got back on track through the joint efforts of both countries," Ma said.

He said he hoped France would work with China to remove obstacles and promote ties that would develop in a sound and stable way.

Bilateral relations warmed after several high-ranking current and former French officials visited China, including former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, National Assembly Speaker Bernard Accoyer and former President Jacques Chirac.