China blames Britain for damaging relations

Beijing - China has said it hopes Britain will take effective and practical steps to repair relations affected by British Prime Minister David Cameron's meeting with the Dalai Lama in May.

During a regular press briefing Wednesday, Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Liu Weimin was asked if China indefinitely suspended ministerial meetings with Britain to protest the so-called (Cameron-Dalai Lama) private meeting.

Liu said it was Britain instead of China that should assume complete responsibility for the damaged relations, China Daily reported.

"China has voiced strong indignation and stern objection to it. Despite China's repeated objection, the British side insisted on meeting with the Dalai Lama," said Liu, urging London to stop indulging the "Tibet independence" forces.

China demands that the British side seriously address China's stern stance, clear up the negative effects of the meeting and bring China-Britain relations back to the healthy track with effective and practical moves, he said.

Lord Green, the British trade and investment minister, and Jeremy Browne, the Foreign Office minister, saw planned meetings with Chinese ministers either cancelled or palmed off on junior officials last month, the Telegraph said Tuesday.

Green, who was visiting China as the head of a trade mission, reportedly could not meet with the Ministry of Commerce or with the National Development and Reform Commission.

In addition, Wu Bangguo, who chairs the standing committee of China's legislature, called off a planned trip to Britain in May. It is unclear whether Cameron can make a planned trip to Beijing at the end of the year, the Guardian reported.

The Dalai Lama is due to return to Britain Thursday for a 10-day, pre-Olympic tour to various British cities, and how the trip unfolds could have a significant effect on Sino-British relations, Beijing sources told the British daily.