Talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama over Tibet may continue if he is 'sincere', Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing on Friday.
"Tibet is an inalienable part of China and issues related to Tibet are China's internal affairs which should not be interfered by foreign countries," Wen told reporters at a press conference after the National People's Congress (NPC) closed its annual session.
"Our stance toward Tibet is consistent and clear cut," he said, adding the door was always open for talks if the Dalai Lama gave up his separatist attempts.
Wen said the central government held three talks last year with the Dalai Lama's representatives in response to their request.
"Such talks could continue as long as the Dalai Lama is sincere so as to ensure talks bear essential fruits," he told reporters.
Wen said stability and development of Tibet had demonstrated that the Chinese central government had carried out the right policies in the region.
"The situation in Tibet on the whole is stable. The Tibetan people hope to live and work in peace and stability.
"Both China's Constitution and the Law on Ethnic Regional Autonomy safeguard the freedom and rights of people in Tibet, particularly in religious belief," the premier said.
He added that the central government had increased fiscal input to Tibet to accelerate the region's economic development and to improve the well-being of farmers.
{{/usCountry}}He added that the central government had increased fiscal input to Tibet to accelerate the region's economic development and to improve the well-being of farmers.
{{/usCountry}}"The Tibet Autonomous Region would continue follow the opening-up policy for the sake of its own development," Wen said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader and thousands of Tibetans fled to India in 1959.