Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, June 24, 1996

BONN, June 24 (Reuter) - German Construction Minister Klaus Toepfer has cancelled a trip to China amid a diplomatic row sparked by the Bonn parliament's criticism of China's human rights record in Tibet, his ministry said on Monday.

"Given the current situation, the government does not think it is appropriate for Toepfer to undertake the trip as planned," a ministry spokeswoman told reporters.

The minister's decision followed Beijing's announcement on Sunday that it was cancelling a planned trip to China by Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel in reponse to criticism of its Tibet policies in a German parliamentary resolution.

Kinkel said the move -- the latest in a series of spats between the two countries -- was unjustified but called for calm to prevent the row from escalating.

The parliamentary resolution, passed on Thursday with support from all the main parliamentary parties, condemned a list of alleged Chinese rights abuses in Tibet.

Toepfer was scheduled to depart for China next Sunday for a week-long trip.