Reportage – 2003

Tibetan envoy wants more dialogue after breakthrough China trip

DHARAMSHALA, India, 28 Sept 2002 (AFP)

A Tibetan envoy who made a landmark visit to China this month on Saturday hailed the trip as a breakthrough and voiced hope for more "frank" dialogue soon between Beijing and the exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, the Dalai Lama's envoy to the United States who returned from China Friday, said the Buddhist leader "welcomed the positive gesture of the leadership in Beijing" and "was very pleased that a renewed contact has been established."

"We cannot say that a concrete outcome has resulted out of this trip, but we definitely feel that a new chapter in China-Tibet relations has opened," he told reporters at the Tibetan government-in-exile's base in the northern Indian hill station of Dharamsala.

"We saw hope for the future because the Chinese leaders listened to our concerns with genuine interest," he said after briefing the Dalai Lama.

The Nobel Peace laureate "instructed us to make full use of the opportunity created to continue our efforts to advance this process vigorously, which will lead to a mutually acceptable solution."

Gyari and four other envoys of the Dalai Lama arrived in Tibet on September 13 in what China termed a private visit to see relatives. But the trip raised hope that Beijing wished to reopen dialogue with the Dalai Lama, which was broken off in 1993.

On September 17, however, China's foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said there would be no change in policy until the Dalai Lama stops his "separatist activities," recognizes Tibet as an "inalienable part of China" and considers Taiwan part of China.

In the exiled Tibetan leadership's first comments since the visit, Gyari said he was hopeful of further dialogue with Beijing.

"We cannot give an exact time frame, but I am optimistic of such visits in the near future as China will also benefit from a mutually negotiated settlement of the Tibetan issue."

Gyari said the two sides had "frank exchanges of views" but acknowledged that the Chinese were firmly opposed to dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

"They reiterated the known position of the Chinese government on dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama," he said.

"We have made every effort to create the basis for opening a new chapter in our relationship," Gyari said.

"We are fully aware that this task cannot be completed during a single visit. It will also need continued persistent effort and support from many sides."

Western governments, particularly the European Parliament and US Congress, have strongly urged Beijing to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama in an effort to return him to his homeland.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after an abortive uprising in 1959 and established a government-in-exile in India.

China, which has ruled Tibet since 1951, has been accused of trying to wipe out its Buddhist-based culture through political and religious repression and a flood of ethnic Chinese immigration.

The delegation visited Chinese-administered Tibet and was "impressed by the dedication and competency" of official efforts "to develop Tibet economically."

But Gyari said the envoys also "drew their (officials') attention to the importance of paying equal attention to preserving Tibet's distinct cultural, religious and linguistic heritage."

He said the envoys were able to visit holy sites in Tibet. However, "there was little opportunity to interact with ordinary Tibetans," he said.

Gyari said the delegation met Chinese-backed Tibetan leaders as well as officials in Beijing, including Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Li De Zhu, minister for nationalities affairs.

In addition to Tibet and Beijing, the delegation visited Chengdu and Shanghai, Gyari said.