A reference to the meeting held in Paris from July 14 to 16, 1989, by the leaders of France, the United States, Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the President of the Commission of European Communities. On July 15 the meeting issued a political declaration "condemning" China's quelling of the counter-revolutionary rebellion of the previous June as a "violent suppression... in violation of human rights". It stated that such sanctions as suspension of high-level political contacts and postponement of World Bank loans to China would be imposed. In response, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry delivered a speech on July 17 saying that the summit "made unwarranted accusations against China and exerted pressure on China.... The Chinese government cannot but express its utmost regret over the matter." In an editorial published on July 17, People's Daily stated: "The accusations against China were totally unwarranted and represented gross interference in its internal affairs. Naturally, the Chinese government and people will reject them."