China's foreign ministry spokesman Sunday said China expressed strong opposition to the third United States presidential report on the "Tibet issue" and told the United States to stop "interfering in China's internal affairs."

Qin Gang, responding to a question about the report, said that Tibet is a part of China and Tibet affairs is an internal affair of China.

Qin said that the report made irresponsible remarks on the Tibet affairs based on the US legislature and "ignored the facts." He said the report violated the basic principles of international relations and the three Sino-US joint communiques and "constituted interference in China's internal affairs."

He said the Chinese government's policy towards the Dalai Lama was clear.

Qin said so long as the Dalai Lama really gives up his advocacy of "Tibet independence," stops separatist activities, declares in public that he recognizes Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, "we shall contact him for negotiations."

Qin said China demands the US side honor its repeated commitment that the United States recognizes Tibet is a part of China and does not support "Tibet independence" and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by using the "Tibet issue."

The US government submitted to Congress the first presidential report on the "Tibet issue" in May 2003. The second was submitted in last July.