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Phoenix Satellite TV:

My first question is for Mr. Guo. It's known that the CPC has kept a good relationship with Myanmar's National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi, whose visits to China were quite successful. In her recent interview with Phoenix Satellite TV, she expressed her willingness to further promote such good bilateral ties. But the political situation in Myanmar is not stable, and the issue of the Rohingya in Rakhine State has attracted intense attention worldwide. Western countries and the U.N. condemned the Myanmar government for ethnic cleansing. In contrast, China has showed its support to the Myanmar government in stabilizing the state's situation. Why has China taken this stance?

My second question is for Mr. Zhang. Despite China's strong opposition, some countries have been consistently inviting the Dalai Lama for a visit. We know that the Dalai Lama just concluded his European trip. I want to know if China will take tougher stance on this issue. And the foreign media have been focusing on the freedom of religious belief. In your briefing, you stressed that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation and China will further encourage religious believers to play a positive role. Can you explain more about this?

Guo Yezhou:

Thanks for your attention to the China-Myanmar relationship, especially the relations between the political parties of the two countries. China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors, enjoying a long and deep-rooted friendship. We hope, through various channels, including the exchanges between political parties, to make joint efforts with our Myanmar counterparts to give a strong boost to the China-Myanmar friendship and deepen exchange and cooperation in various fields. As we all know, Myanmar launched its political transformation in 2010. Since then, political parties have been playing more prominent roles in their political life. The CPC has established and developed friendly exchanges and cooperative ties with the major political parties in Myanmar. For example, we established friendly cooperative relations with the Union Solidarity and Development Party in 2010. In June 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, paid a visit to China at the invitation of the CPC, ushering in a deeper communication between the two parties. As for the issue of Rakhine State, China condemned the violent attacks in Rakhine State and understands and supports the Myanmar government in their efforts to safeguard the peace and stability in that region. We sincerely hope that Myanmar, including the Rakhine State, will see sustained peace, stability and development.

Zhang Yijiong:

Let me answer your second question. The 14th Dalai Lama continues to go around the world and seek visits with foreign countries. What new measures will the Chinese government take? First, I want to make clear that the 14th Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but also a political one. The aim of the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile" he organized in a foreign country in 1959 is, in essence, seeking "Tibetan independence" and splitting the motherland. As head of the group, the 14th Dalai Lama has never stopped his activities in this regard over the past decades. Therefore, the Chinese government certainly opposes the 14th Dalai Lama's visits to some foreign countries and his meetings with some political leaders of those countries. Here, I want you all to pay attention to two points.

First, no country in the world recognizes the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile." Although individual officials in some countries have received the Dalai Lama, their countries do not recognize the group. Second, there is no country in the world that will not protest about foreign governments receiving an individual who goes around the world with the intention of separating the home country. So, the Chinese government opposes governments and organizations in any country in the world receiving the Dalai Lama in any name. We consider such visits a severe insult to the feelings of the Chinese people and a deviation from their commitment to recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. So we hope governments around the world exercise caution in both words and deeds and give full consideration to their friendship with China and their respect for China's sovereignty. I'd like to add the fact that a decreasing number of countries received the Dalai Lama in their official capacity in recent years and the Dalai Lama could only manage to give lectures in universities or hold religious activities instead. All in all, we will continue to oppose the Dalai Lama's visits in any name.

Zhang Yijiong:

As for the issues that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation and that China will further encourage religious believers to play a positive role, let me start with Tibetan Buddhism. It was born in ancient China and has Chinese characteristics. It's true that it has been influenced by Buddhism in neighboring countries during its formation and evolution. But Tibetan Buddhism has developed its unique doctrines and rituals in response to local conditions. It is a fine example of religion adapting to Chinese conditions.

There are five major religions in China and also some foreigners working, living and studying in China who believe in other legitimate religions. They are all protected by the Chinese government. Adapting religions to Chinese conditions is a responsibility that should be shared by the government, religious groups and professionals. All religions in the world have their own laws during the process of emergence and development. One of the laws is indisputably that for a religion to exist and develop, it must synergize with the concurrent social stage and trend of development in the country. Otherwise, the development of religions will be met with setbacks and even big obstacles. There are many such examples in religious histories.

Therefore, we have actively guided Tibetan Buddhism to adapt itself to the Chinese conditions in Tibet, with the aim being for it to integrate excellent traditional Chinese culture in its development. The Tibetan culture is an important component of Chinese culture. The greatness and excellence of the Chinese nation is attributable to the abundant and profound cultures of all its ethnic groups. It's necessary for the sound development of Tibetan Buddhism to take in the fine culture of the Chinese nation and give interpretations suitable to the tide of the times. Thank you.

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