Chinese FM urges Mongolia to draw lessons from Dalai Lama visit, respect China's core interests

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that Mongolia shall draw lessons from the Dalai Lama's visit last November and respect China's major concerns and core interests.

Wang made the remarks over a telephone conversation with his Mongolian counterpart, Tsend Munkh-Orgil, at the latter's invitation.

The Chinese minister said the development of China-Mongolia relations, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, has been overshadowed by the negative impacts of the Dalai Lama's visit.

Wang said that Mongolia has reflected deeply upon the visit and made an explicit promise not to allow the political exile to visit the landlocked Asian nation again.

Mongolia shall keep its promise and make practical efforts to improve the China-Mongolia relationship, the top Chinese diplomat added.

For his part, Munkh-Orgil said the Mongolian government had expressed regret over the negative impact of the visit on Mongolia-China relations.

Mongolia, a staunch supporter of the one-China policy, has always believed that Tibet is an integral part of China, said Munkh-Orgil.

The Mongolian top diplomat reiterated his country's public stance on the Dalai Lama's visit and the approval of the 10th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, saying Mongolia attaches great importance to its relations with China, and will safeguard the bilateral ties' political basis and promote bilateral relations with practical actions.

The Dalai Lama, a political exile with ambitions to split Tibet from the Chinese territory under the guise of religion, paid a visit to Mongolia on Nov. 18-23.

China has voiced strong dissatisfaction over the visit. Endi