Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama opened a visit to the United States to meet President Barack Obama, infuriating China as it tries to sideline the revered monk.
The Dalai Lama, who has tried to use foreign trips to throw a spotlight on China’s treatment of his homeland, flew into Washington Wednesday and headed to a hotel to greet fellow Tibetans for their Losar new year.
The 74-year-old will head to the White House Thursday for a long-awaited meeting with Obama. Describing the encounter as private, the White House said Obama will receive him in the Map Room — not the more official Oval Office.
Beijing has opposed any meeting with the Dalai Lama, demanding that the United States reverse its “wrong decision” to “avoid any more damage to Sino-US relations.”
The Obama administration not only refused to call off the meeting, but announced that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would also see the Dalai Lama Thursday at the State Department.
“The Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, internationally revered religious and cultural leader and the secretary will meet him in this capacity as recent secretaries of state have done,” her spokesman Mark Toner said.
He acknowledged that China was upset by the Dalai Lama’s trip but said that the United States supported a cooperative relationship with the rising Asian power.
Dalai Lama to seek Obama’s help in resolving Tibet issue
The Dalai Lama arrived in Washington for a meeting with President Barack Obama Thursday during which the Tibetan spiritual leader would seek US’ help in resolving the Tibet issue, despite Chinese opposition to the meet.
The Tibet’s exiled leader would also meet the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the State Department announced.
Terming it as an important meeting, the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy, Lodi Gyari, said the Tibetan leader will speak about Tibet, and as two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, he and the President are likely to discuss global concerns.
“His Holiness will be asking the President to help find a solution in resolving the Tibet issue that would be mutually beneficial to the Tibetan and Chinese people,” Gyari said in a statement issued soon after the arrival of the Dalai Lama in Washington Wednesday afternoon.
The Dalai Lama would also receive an award for his commitment to advancing the principles of democracy and human rights.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the meeting will happen in Map Room. “There will be an official photo released out of that,” Gibbs said.
The visit comes despite Chinese opposition to it. China has urged the Obama Administration to cancel the meeting.
“Our relationship with China is diverse and there are a lot of issues. There’s common ground. It’s a complex relationship. There are areas where we agree on. There are areas where we disagree on,” State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said.
“We are going to continue to pursue that relationship vigorously, while at the same time recognizing, for example, the Dalai Lama, that he’s a respected cultural and religious figure and, as with past presidents, we intend to meet with him,” Toner said.
Tags: China, Dalai Lama
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