Beijing responded coldly yesterday after French President Nicolas Sarkozy surprisingly credited the government with a key role in facilitating the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Sarkozy said in a French television interview on Tuesday that President Hu Jintao helped persuade the Myanmese junta to release Suu Kyi, after Sarkozy raised the case with Hu when he visited France this month.
While Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei acknowledged yesterday that the two presidents had discussed the situation in Myanmar, among other regional issues, Hong avoided a direct answer when asked whether China had influenced Myanmar. Instead, he reaffirmed China's 'non-interference' policy.
'Respecting the choice of other countries to pick a road to development according to their own situations, and building relationships with other countries based on the foundation of the 'Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence' ... has always been China's position,' Hong said.
'Non-interference' is a cardinal principle of the 'Peaceful Coexistence' doctrine. 'We not only talk about these principles. We also follow them in action,' Hong said.
Sarkozy's is struggling in the opinion polls at home and has been seeking to revive support through a series of actions, including a cabinet reshuffle and this week's rare television interview. He spoke mainly on domestic issues, but also tried to claim credit for the release of Suu Kyi.