China Voice: Obama should remember discussions about Dalai Lama

BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) — “Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher,” Confucius famously said.

As reports of a possible meeting between Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama are circulating, it is time to remind the U.S. president of his words in Beijing about three months ago.

On the evening of Nov. 11, President Xi Jinping and the visiting U.S. president discussed building a new China-U.S. relationship at Yingtai in the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in downtown Beijing.

Through their discussions, Obama said he had a better understanding of Chinese people’s cherishing of their national unity and stability.

The discussions should not be forgotten, accidentally or intentionally. Nor should the U.S leader’s words the following day be forgotten.

Then, in another meeting with Obama, Xi outlined six priorities in building a new type of major-country relationship, one of which goes that it is inevitable to have differences, but the two sides should always resort to dialogue and not act against each other’s core interests.

The U.S. president stressed that the United States acknowledges Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China and does not back independence for the region.

Issues regarding Tibet concern China’s core interests and national sentiments.

Obama had met the Dalai Lama, a political exile who has long engaged in anti-China secessionist activities in the name of religion, three times before the discussions in the Zhongnanhai compound.

Despite the Dalai Lama’s preaching of peace, tolerance and benevolence, his main political objective has always been to pursue Tibet independence.

After the coming-together at Yingtai, the U.S. leader should understand any meeting with the Dalai Lama would harm China-U.S. ties and hurt the Chinese people’s feelings.

China’s stance on the issue has been clear and solemn representations have been lodged in the past. China is firmly opposed to any meeting between any country’s leader and the Dalai Lama in any form.

The U.S. government led by President Obama should stick to its commitments on Tibet, and properly settle related issues with the overall interests of China-U.S. relations in mind.

The Yingtai discussions deepened mutual understanding and led to major progress in a wide range of areas, including reciprocal visa arrangements and confidence-building measures between the two militaries.

More of such positive actions are welcome to keep enhancing ties between the two great countries.