EUROPEAN Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said today he wanted "positive developments soon" on Tibet after talks with China`s premier, and voiced opposition to any Olympic boycott.
Mr Barroso, leading a large EU delegation in Beijing amid tension over China`s rule in Tibet and the Beijing Olympics, said he reassured Premier Wen Jiabao that Europe considered the Himalayan region as part of Chinese territory.
Tibet was expected to be a major item on the agenda during the trip, although the mission is also complicated by the desire of European businesses to strengthen ties with the Asian giant.
China`s crackdown on unrest in Tibet and criticism of its rights record has sparked noisy protests that have disrupted the Olympic torch`s round-the-world relay ahead of the August Games, infuriating Chinese authorities.
"We had an open and frank exchange on Tibet," Mr Barroso said about his talks with Mr Wen.
"I have reiterated the EU position on this matter, and I am particularly encouraged by our exchanges about Tibet. I hope to see positive developments soon."
He said he had told Mr Wen that Europe supported China`s territorial integrity and unity "and that naturally applies to Tibet".
Mr Barroso also deflected calls for a boycott of at least the opening ceremony of the Games.
"The Olympics must be a celebration of the youth of the world and it must be a success. That is why I`m against the boycott."
Friday`s meeting followed comments by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he was "shocked" by the violence in Tibet and called on China to give greater autonomy to the region. His comments, with France due to take on the EU presidency in July, could throw fuel on the simmering dispute and anger in China over protests in Paris and London that disrupted the Beijing Olympic torch relay.
Mr Sarkozy said yesterday he had not yet decided whether to attend the August 8 Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing, but would work toward a common European position.
Mr Wen, for his part, said after meeting Mr Barroso that he had briefed the EU chief on the situation in Tibet and China`s stance on it.
The Chinese premier said earlier that they had spoken shortly after Mr Barroso arrived late yesterday and "consensus was reached on a lot of issues, laying a good basis for today`s (Friday`s) talks".
Earlier this month, European MPs called on EU leaders to boycott the Games opening ceremony unless China resumes dialogue with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
China`s own state media acknowledged shortly after Mr Barroso`s arrival that the China-EU relationship had "soured" over Tibet.
"The main purpose is to mend the fissure that has occurred in the Sino-EU relationship," Shen Jiru, a researcher at the major thinktank Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Xinhua news agency.
The visit was planned some months ago and was due to discuss topics ranging from climate change to intellectual property rights.
Now, four months ahead of the Olympics, Mr Barroso must attempt to please EU industry chiefs eager for business in China, and those who are clamouring for at least a symbolic protest against China`s crackdown on Tibet.
Protests against Chinese rule over Tibet erupted in the Himalayan region`s capital Lhasa last month, later spreading to other areas of China with Tibetan populations.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say the subsequent Chinese crackdown left more than 150 people dead. Beijing insists it acted with restraint, killing no one, and blames Tibetan "rioters" for the deaths of 20 people.
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