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Dalai Lama to meet Sarkozy in EU China angry at EU-Dalai meeting
(about 9 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland, in a move that has angered Beijing. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has met the Dalai Lama in Poland, despite angry threats from Beijing.
China has warned France that multi-billion-dollar bilateral trade deals could be harmed if the meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader goes ahead. China had warned France that multi-billion dollar bilateral trade deals could be harmed if the meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader went ahead.
Beijing cancelled an EU-China summit last week which France, current holder of the EU presidency, was to host.Beijing cancelled an EU-China summit last week which France, current holder of the EU presidency, was to host.
Mr Sarkozy is in Poland for a meeting with nine EU eastern member states on the bloc's climate change plans.Mr Sarkozy is in Poland for a meeting with nine EU eastern member states on the bloc's climate change plans.
The French president, who did not meet the Buddhist leader when he visited France in August, would be the only European head of state to meet the Dalai Lama while holding the EU's six-month rotating presidency. The French president, who did not meet the Buddhist leader when he visited France in August, appealed for calm about Saturday's meeting, at a gathering of former Nobel Peace prize winners in the Polish Baltic port of Gdansk.
Their meeting is scheduled to take place at 1530 GMT during a gathering of former Nobel Peace prize winners in the Polish Baltic port of Gdansk. "The world needs an open China that participates in global governance," said Mr Sarkozy. "China needs a powerful Europe that gives work to Chinese enterprise."
Mutual needMutual need
The 73-year-old Dalai Lama this week told European lawmakers he was seeking autonomy within China - not independence from it.The 73-year-old Dalai Lama this week told European lawmakers he was seeking autonomy within China - not independence from it.
But he also urged the EU - China's biggest trading partner - to stand up to Beijing on human rights. If Sarkozy really meets the Dalai Lama, we will not shop at Carrefour or buy French products again, Zhang Mengguang EU pushes climate deal in PolandBut he also urged the EU - China's biggest trading partner - to stand up to Beijing on human rights. If Sarkozy really meets the Dalai Lama, we will not shop at Carrefour or buy French products again, Zhang Mengguang EU pushes climate deal in Poland
His scheduled meeting with Mr Sarkozy has prompted grass-roots anger among Chinese citizens, some of whom have called for a boycott of French goods. His meeting with Mr Sarkozy has prompted grass-roots anger among Chinese citizens, some of whom have called for a boycott of French goods.
"If Sarkozy really meets the Dalai Lama, we will not shop at Carrefour or buy French products again," Zhang Mengguang told the BBC at a Beijing branch of the French supermarket chain. At a Beijing branch of the French supermarket chain Carrefour, Zhang Mengguang told the BBC that if the meeting went ahead, "we will not shop at Carrefour or buy French products again".
"We Chinese should have our own pride."
Carrefour, the biggest purchaser of Chinese goods in France, employs thousands of people in China.Carrefour, the biggest purchaser of Chinese goods in France, employs thousands of people in China.
Beijing's foreign ministry this week emphasised that China's strategic partnership with France was closely linked to the two countries' business relations.Beijing's foreign ministry this week emphasised that China's strategic partnership with France was closely linked to the two countries' business relations.
"Only under the condition of good bilateral relations can we create a sound atmosphere for our business relations," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Thursday."Only under the condition of good bilateral relations can we create a sound atmosphere for our business relations," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Thursday.
Non-violent methodsNon-violent methods
French officials say the fierceness of China's response is because of France's current position as rotating EU president. French officials say the fierceness of China's response is because of France's current position as rotating EU president.The Dalai Lama has called for Tibetan autonomy within China
But they have also emphasised that France and China continue to need each other during a period of economic crisis. We are not the teachers of the European classroom French presidential official But they have also emphasised that France and China continue to need each other during a period of economic crisis.
"The Chinese believe that we have the power to enforce discipline among the [27] countries of the European Union," a French presidential official told Reuters news agency."The Chinese believe that we have the power to enforce discipline among the [27] countries of the European Union," a French presidential official told Reuters news agency.
"We are not the teachers of the European classroom.""We are not the teachers of the European classroom."
Addressing the European parliament in Brussels this week, the Dalai Lama said he was "seeking a genuine autonomy within China".Addressing the European parliament in Brussels this week, the Dalai Lama said he was "seeking a genuine autonomy within China".
He said his movement was not "separatist", stressing his commitment to "strictly non-violent methods" to achieve its goals.He said his movement was not "separatist", stressing his commitment to "strictly non-violent methods" to achieve its goals.
Chinese authorities call the Dalai Lama a wolf in monk's clothing and a devil with a human face, hell-bent on breaking Tibet away from China, the BBC's Oana Lungescu has said.Chinese authorities call the Dalai Lama a wolf in monk's clothing and a devil with a human face, hell-bent on breaking Tibet away from China, the BBC's Oana Lungescu has said.
The exiled Tibetan leader is on a tour of European countries that has included meetings with the Belgian and Czech prime ministers as well as fellow Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Lech Walesa, the former Polish president. Although Tibet has enjoyed long periods of self-rule, China maintains that it has always been an integral part of its territory.
Chinese Communist forces invaded Tibet in 1950 and have ruled there ever since.
The Dalai Lama is on a tour of European countries that has included meetings with the Belgian and Czech prime ministers as well as fellow Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Lech Walesa, the former Polish president.