China urges Switzerland to respect interests, stop false claims

Beijing urged Switzerland on Thursday to respect China's core interests and major concerns and stop spreading false information to the outside world after the Swiss government suggested that Tibetan and Xinjiang people living in Switzerland are "probably under pressure from China."

"Xizang-related and Xinjiang-related issues are purely China's internal affairs and no external forces should interfere," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference.

He condemned the political manipulation of these issues, calling the accusations and smear campaigns against China "baseless and contradicts the fundamental principle of mutual respect in relations between the two countries."

"This is not in line with the current high level of Sino-Swiss relations", he added.

Switzerland should fully recognize the importance and sensitivity of Xizang-related and Xinjiang-related issues and take concrete actions to protect the integrity of Sino-Swiss ties, Guo said.