H.E. Jose Maria GIL-ROBLES GIL DELGADO

President of the European Parliament

Brussels

September 26th, 1997

Excellency,

On September 18th, I learnt with regret that on that day the European Parliament adopted once again an urgent resolution interfering in China's internal affairs. This time, the resolution meddles in the affairs of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. It openly clamours for splitting China by fabricating lies, willfully vilifying China's ethnic policies, and even falsely accusing China of "occupying" Inner Mongolia. The European Parliament has gone farther and farther in creating troubles for the Sino-European relations. The Chinese side hereby expresses its strong dissatisfaction and indignation.

It is known to all that Inner Mongolia has been an Inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times. It has all along been a region inhabited by many ethnic groups of the Mongolian, Han, Hui and Man people. There is absolutely no question of settlement by the Han people. In fact, the population of the ethnic minorities was 920,000 upon the founding of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It has now increased to 4,650,000, an increase of four times. The population of the Mongolian people in the region has increased from 830,000 to 3,778,000, an increase of three and half times. As the first ethnic autonomous region of the New China, Inner Mongolia has achieved eye-catching progress in the past fifty years. At present, it enjoys economic development, ethnic unity and social stability. The people there live and work in peace and contentment, fully enjoying their national autonomous rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Law of National Autonomy. Facts are the best eyewitness.

However, in disregard of the basic facts, a small number of members of the European Parliament have confounded black and white and supported those lies aimed at splitting China by adding fuel to the flames. This is something that the Chinese people are firmly opposed to. I believe that any responsible statesman will not agree to such practices of these MEPs. I sincerely hope that Your Excellency will play a part in changing these practices.

The principles of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs are the basic norms governing international relations. We demand that the European Parliament abide by those basic international norms, refrain from any action meddling in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty and unity.

It would be appreciated if the above-mentioned position of the Chinese side could be communicated to the political groups and the committees of the European Parliament.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highestconsideration

SONG Mingjiang

Ambassador and the Head of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Communities