China says stop Tibet protests to advance talks

ROME (Reuters) - China on Tuesday called on the Dalai Lama and his supporters to halt Tibet protests and attempts to "ruin the Olympics," in order to create the conditions for future roundtable talks.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, speaking to reporters during a visit to Rome, did not say when the next round of talks would take place. Chinese officials last met envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader on May 4.

"We maintain that the Dalai Lama's side must halt the separatist activity, ending violent acts of destruction against China, halt its activity to ruin the Olympics, (thereby) creating the conditions for further meetings," Yang said.

At their last meeting, Dalai Lama envoys and Chinese officials agreed to hold more discussions on June 11. But those talks were postponed following China's earthquake in May that killed more than 69,000 people.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a lengthy phone conversation with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in which she urged him to continue the dialogue with envoys of the Dalai Lama, her spokesman said on Tuesday.

"She encouraged the premier to continue the dialogue," her spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said in a statement.

"She also reaffirmed the German government's one-China policy under a framework in which she advocated a strengthening of Tibet's cultural and religious autonomy."

Yang said in Rome -- without entering into details -- that China had shown its commitment to good-faith discussions.

"We demonstrated the maximum sincerity and good will toward resolving the problem," Yang said.