Beijing, Nov 3 (IANS) China Tuesday for the first time accused the Dalai Lama of trying to “wreck” Sino-Indian ties after calling his planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh a “separatist” activity.
The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit the northeastern Indian state, a part of which Beijing claims, next week. China has repeatedly criticised the trip and asked India to foil it.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu Tuesday flayed the Dalai Lama for his “separatist” activities, media reports said.

Ma said: “The Dalai Lama often lies and often engages in acts to sabotage China’s relations with other countries.”

He told a news briefing: “I am confident that his scheme to wreck China’s relations with the relevant country will come to nothing.”

Ma went on to say that last month Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh had agreed to focus on promoting “healthy and stable relations”.

“We hope that each side will continue striving to make strides in that direction,” Ma was quoted as saying.

Wen and Manmohan Singh met for formal talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in the Thai resort of Hua Hin. They discussed the Dalai Lama at night during a dinner hosted by the Thai prime minister.