China protests Riga trip by Tibetan minister-in-exile

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The Chinese embassy in Riga on Wednesday voiced concerns over the fact that meetings with Latvian lawmakers were being arranged for the current visit by Tibet's foreign minister in exile, Dicki Chhoyang, to Latvia, reported newswire BNS.

"I'm writing to express great concern to the reported visit from 25th to 28th Feb. of Dicki Chhoyang, ‘Foreign Minister of the exiled government of Tibet’ when official meetings with the Saeima [the Latvian parliament] members are being arranged. Such official meetings clearly run against the pronounced official stance of the government of Latvia on 'One China' policy, and by no means fall in line with the ongoing good momentum of the Sino-Latvia relations,” Fu Zhimin, Counsellor and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, said in a letter to BNS.

"It is fact proven that the 'Tibetan Government-in-Exile' , not recognized by any one countries in the world, has long been engaging in open and covert anti-China separatist activities, including violent acts of terrorism. China therefore firmly opposes officials of any country meeting with its representatives in whatever format,” he said in the letter. 

"We strongly urge the Latvian parliamentarians to take China's stance and concern seriously, and we sincerely hope the general public would see through the illegitimate and separatist nature of the ‘Tibetan Government-in-Exile', so as not to be misinformed or misguided,” the official of the Chinese embassy said.

The four-day visit of Tibet's foreign minister in exile, Dicki Chhoyang, to Latvia will last from February 25 until February 28. Several official meetings with politicians, NGO representatives, students, and supporters from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been scheduled for her during this visit.

However her meeting with Latvia’s Chief Ombudsman Juris Jansons was cancelled. Jansons explained to BNS that it was customary for ombudsmen in the EU member states stay outside of any political affairs by association wherever possible.

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