Society

Nobel Peace Prize pick distorts award's aim

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-09 08:28

BEIJING - Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese Liu Xiaobo desecrated the prize and could harm China-Norway ties, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said on Friday.

Ma made the remarks in a press release after he was asked to comment on the award, which was announced earlier in Oslo, Norway.

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Liu was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Dec 25, 2009, after a Beijing court convicted him of agitation aimed at subverting the government.

The Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to people who contribute to national harmony, country-to-country friendship, advancing disarmament and promoting peace conferences, Ma said.

He claimed this was the wish of Alfred Nobel, who initiated the Nobel Prizes.

Ma said Liu was a criminal sentenced by Chinese judicial authorities for violating the law.

"What he has done is contrary to the purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize," he said.

The Nobel committee's decision to award such a person the prize ran contrary to the prize's purpose, he said.

China and Norway have enjoyed a sound development of bilateral ties in recent years. Ma said this was conducive to the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people. Awarding Liu the Nobel Peace Prize might harm ties, he said.

Xinhua