China's Foreign Ministry denies foreign pressure led to Beijing's decision to revive talks with a representative of the Dalai Lama.
China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu says the Chinese government's contact and consultation with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, were completely internal affairs of China.
The United States, the European Union and other western countries have been urging Beijing to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, after recent Tibetan unrest.
The unrest followed several days of peaceful monk-led protests against government persecution in Tibetan areas of China.
Jiang said the foreign pressure had nothing to do with Beijing's announcement last week that it would soon hold talks with the Dalai Lama's envoy.
She says on issues of national sovereignty and territorial integrity the Chinese government and people will never yield to any external pressure.
Chinese officials have met with representatives of the Dalai Lama several times in the past, but with little improvement in relations.

Source : VOA