A British parliamentary delegation, headed by Chairman of the parliament's Britain-China Group Ben Chapman, concluded an eleven-day visit to China on Sunday, after attending the second meeting of the exchange mechanism between the Chinese and British parliaments and visiting Beijing, Qinghai Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

 

Vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Sheng Huaren met with the delegation, and Vice-chairman of the NPC's Foreign Affairs Committee Ji Peiding chaired talks with the delegation.

 

Sheng told Chapman that the NPC is ready to take the exchange mechanism as a platform to strengthen practical dialogues with Britain, in a bid to enhance mutual understanding and trust and promote the in-depth development of China-Britain comprehensive strategic partnership.

 

"China appreciates the British government's adherence to the one-China policy, and hopes the British side fully understands the fraudulence and riskiness of Taiwan authorities' push for 'independence' through 'constitution amendment' and referendum and works with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said Sheng.

 

He said he hoped the British parliament members can see clearly the secessionist nature of the Dalai clique and keep on guard against its political conspiracy, adding Dalai is a political exile under the cloak of "religious leader."

 

Chapman said Britain attaches great importance to developing relations with China and will not change its position of adhering to the one-China policy.

 

He said Britain holds positive views of the economic and social construction achievements in Tibet and the Chinese government's efforts in protecting religious freedom, traditional culture and biological environment in Tibet, saying its delegation had a better understanding of Tibet's over-all situation thanks to this visit.

 

Chapman said the British parliament will continue to develop friendly exchanges with the NPC to jointly promote further development of Britain-China parliamentary relations.

 

The two sides also exchanged views on education, energy and environmental protection cooperation, the opening of financial market and food security, according to the NPC's Foreign Affairs Committee.

 

The two sides agreed to increase their meetings to two per year.

 

The regular exchange mechanism between the parliaments of China and Britain was set up in January, 2006.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)