China warns Sarkozy over Tibet

BEIJING (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy risks losing "hard-won" gains in ties with Beijing if he meets the Dalai Lama, a Chinese government spokesman said on Friday, a day before the two powers attend a financial summit.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said his government "resolutely opposes foreign leaders engaging in any form of contact" with Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace laureate, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in the mountainous region, occupied by Chinese troops from 1950. China calls him a "splittist" for advocating self-determination for his homeland.

Qin's warning was issued on the Foreign Ministry website (www.fmprc.gov.cn) a day after Sarkozy said he would meet the Dalai Lama in Poland in December.

Sarkozy and Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend a summit on the global financial crisis in Washington on Saturday, and the French leader has looked to China to back his proposals to revamp global financial rules.

Asked at a news conference in France whether he would discuss the Dalai Lama meeting with Hu in Washington, Sarkozy said: "If it's a problem (for Franco-Chinese relations), that would be another opportunity for dialogue."

"I think the Chinese decision to boost its economy is an extremely important decision, I think we need China to help sort out world affairs, and I'm delighted to be going to Poland," Sarkozy said.

Spokesman Qin did not mention the summit but suggested Sarkozy's proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama could damage broader relations for both France and the European Union.

"At present, China-French and China-Europe relations have been improving and developing, and this hard-won situation should be further cherished," Qin said.