In reply to media queries, the Singapore Chair of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting said:
"ASEAN members were briefed on recent developments in Tibet by the Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs He Yafei during the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting in Singapore on 7 May 2008. They welcomed the restoration of normalcy and the latest move of the Chinese Government to have contact and consultation with the private representative of the Dalai Lama. This will help restore stability. Linking the Tibetan issue with the Beijing Olympics will serve no purpose other than to politicise the Games. It is in the interest of the region that a long-term solution be found that addresses the concerns of the Tibetan people while respecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ASEAN members also expressed confidence that the Beijing Olympics would be a success."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
7 MAY 2008