Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS April 29, 1997

[Reporter] Sino-Russian relations have developed to a great extent today. Can

we say that the Sino-Russian territorial dispute is completely resolved?

[Qian] The five nations of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and

Tajikistan, namely, the countries along the former Sino-Soviet border, have

signed a border agreement. Now they are settling the border issue in light of

this agreement. Apart from the disputes which still exist in a very small

number of areas, the entire border issue is being settled in light of the

agreement. We will strive to settle the issue before the end of this year.

[Reporter] Did President Jiang Zemin mention the issue of opposing ethnic

separatist activities in his meetings with the presidents of the three Central

Asian republics?

[Qian] He did talk about the issue. He talked more about it especially with

the Kazakhstani and Kyrgyz presidents. Both parties have identical views, holding that in order to maintain peace and stability in this region, including the Central Asian region and Chinas Xinjiang region, it is necessary to curb the

activities of the ethnic separatists because such activities will cause

instability in the region, especially if some terrorist acts spread.

Therefore, both the Kazakhstani president and the Kyrgyz president have explicitly said that they will never allow a handful of Xinjiang separatists to carry out their activities in their countries.

The Dalai Lama Can Return to China if He Does Not Engage in Independence for

Tibet

[Reporter] Just as President Jiang Zemin met with President Yeltsin in Moscow,

Clinton met with the Dalai Lama in Washington. Are the two events related?

[Qian] They are totally unrelated. Some people say that the Dalai is a

religious leader, but I think he is actually an exiled separatist carrying out

activities of splitting the motherland, although he decks himself out as a

religious leader. Some people say that the Dalai is ready to hold talks with

the central government. In fact, we had contact with each other for a dozen

years or so before 1993, but he has suspended talks with the central government

since 1993. We have said: So long as the Dalai openly declares that Tibet is

an inseparable part of Chinese territory and that he will not engage in Tibetan

independence and activities of splitting the motherland, and neither will he

engage in similar activities, we can talk and he also can return to China.

Qian Will Visit United States Shortly To Discuss Top-level Exchange Visit.