Minister not welcome in China
Belgium, June 16: The Chinese authorities have refused to grant a visa to the Flemish Culture Minister Bert Anciaux (progressive regionalist). Mr Anciaux had been due to travel to China to attend the official opening of a joint Flemish-Chinese exhibition “The Forbidden Empire” at the end of this month.
China’s refusal to grant him a visa means that Mr Anciaux won’t be able to join Crown Prince Filip of the Belgians at the ceremony.
The Prince left for a trade mission to China, together with a delegation representing some 300 companies and three Ministers on Friday.
A 36-strong group of Belgian journalists has also travelled east to cover the Prince’s visit.
Prince Filip’s trip will include visits to the Olympic Stadium in Peking and film studios in Shanghai, as well as meetings with Chinese government officials.
Anciaux refused to be silenced
The daily ‘De Morgen’ reports that Mr Anciaux told China’s Ambassador to Belgium at the beginning of May that he would not be silenced over the thorny issue of Tibet. Furthermore, he indicated that it would come up in his speech at the official opening of “The Forbidden Empire”.
The Chinese sent Mr Anciaux a book and several DVDs giving China’s side of the story on the Tibetan issue.
However, this failed to change the Flemish Culture Minister’s mind. Consequently, the Chinese told Mr Anciaux that he would not be granted a visa to enter the country.
Just a week before he is due to travel to China Mr Anciaux still has no visa and its seems likely that the Flemish Culture Minister will send a delegation from his office to represent him at the opening of the exhibition.
