British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there should be no boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games, as engagement rather than isolation is the way forward.
"We believe the Olympics are an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been achieved in China and its commitment to work in a peaceful way with the international community," Miliband, who is on a weeklong official visit to China, told reporters following a formal meeting with his Chinese host Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi yesterday in Beijing.
He said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who completed a successful China trip last month, will return to Beijing in August to take part in the Games' opening ceremony.
He said that from the UK's point of view, "engagement, not isolation" is the correct approach toward the Beijing Olympics.
China has come under tough criticism from some nongovernmental groups and the US Congress, which have tried to link the Beijing Games with the country's policy in Sudan's Darfur.
Yang said yesterday during a joint press briefing with Miliband that he strongly opposed the practice of using the Olympics to hype political issues.
He said the Chinese government takes the Darfur issue seriously and has been working constructively to help the region to restore peace and stability.
China has achieved several "firsts" in this regard:
It was the first country to clearly propose and promote the trilateral mechanism between Sudan, the Africa Union and the United Nations and was also the first to push forward a "double track" strategy - a balanced combination of political processes and peacekeeping missions
It was the first country outside Africa to send peacekeeping troops to the region
It provided assistance to Darfur earlier and faster than other countries and has offered the most aid of all developing countries.
Yang said China has so far offered $11 million worth of assistance to Sudan to build wells and hospitals. A 140-strong Chinese engineering unit has arrived in Darfur, which will be gradually expanded to 315, he said.
Yang also said Darfur issue was in essence an issue for Sudan and Africa.
"No matter what we do, the Sudanese government and other African countries should be fully respected," Yang said.
The two ministers also agreed to send all British ambassadors to UN Security Council countries and the United Nations to Beijing to survey the world situation as it looks from Chinese eyes.
"It is very important for them to understand the Chinese perspective," Miliband said.
Miliband paid a courtesy call to Premier Wen Jiabao later yesterday and is scheduled to give a speech to students at Peking University today.
Source: China Daily
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