China on Thursday said the principle for the central government to conduct dialogue with the Dalai Lama has not changed, which is that the Dalai Lama must give up his stance for Tibet independence and completely stop activities to separate China.

"On such a basis, the door for dialogue is always open", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at Thursday's regular press conference.

"If the Dalai Lama is really concerned about Tibet, we hope he could be aware of the trend, and do more good deeds that are conducive to the benefit of the Tibetan people", Qin added.

The riots, with an intent to damage social stability, destroy the stable and harmonious livelihood of the local people, undermine the Beijing Olympic Games, sabotage the security and territorial integrity of a sovereign country, which once again exposed the secessionist nature of the Dalai Lama, Qin pointed out.

Qin said TV programs have clearly shown that what happened in Lhasa is definitely not peaceful protest but violent crime including killing innocent people, arson, robbing, smashing shops, schools and banks, which have been strongly denounced and firmly opposed by people of all nationalities living in Tibet.

"If they are to be tolerated, are there true laws, human rights, justice? The criminals are bound to be tried and punished in accordance with the law", Qin said.

However the spokesman noted that in the process of dealing with the riots in Lhasa, local autonomous region government and law enforcement personnel exercised great restraint, and did not take with them and use weapons that might kill or injure.

Any country with just and without prejudice will understand and support the handling of the riots by relevant Chinese departments, Qin said.

Qin said the series of public activities of the Dalai clique both at home and overseas showed per se they had connections with the riots.

"We cannot simply believe what Dalai Lama has said but see what he really has done", Qin said, adding that the Dalai Lama should rethink what he has really done and make efforts to create conditions for dialogue with the central government.

Facts are facts and will neither be distorted nor covered up, more evidence will released as the investigation proceeds forward, Qin promised.

On UK's Prime Minister Gordon Brown's remarks on his willingness to meet Dalai Lama, Qin said China is "seriously concerned."

China strongly demanded that the UK fully recognize Dalai Lama's 'true face', and not to render any support in any form to him and his secessionist activities, Qin said.

Qin said foreign media have great concern over the riots, and wrote plenty of news stories, some are very objective yet some are seriously against the facts and what truly happened.

China hopes media, whether their journalists are on the spot or outside the area, could respect the truth, hold firm the professional spirits for news coverage, and report the riots in an "objective, just and responsible" manner.

Qin said China fully understands that foreign media and journalists' need and eagerness to cover the news on Tibet situation, and the work on organizing foreign journalists to report in Lhasa is under preparation.

Qin briefed the city has now basically returned to order.