'Don't isolate China, bring it into mainstream of world community'
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Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Wednesday that the international community has a responsibility "to bring China into the mainstream of society and create genuine friendship," Agence France-Presse reported.
"China is very, very keen to join the world community. The world community has more responsibility to bring China into (the) mainstream of world democracy," the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader told a news conference in Paris before a meeting with French lawmakers.
The world "must not isolate China," His Holiness added, but "must bring it into the mainstream of society and create genuine friendship. It is very essential.
His Holiness said at the same time the international community should be firm in pressing China on democracy, human rights, press freedom, rule of law..."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid tribute to the "transparency" of the Chinese government's response to the Sichuan earthquake in May.
"We are hoping transparency will increase," His Holiness said, adding that, on the question of Tibet, China "still hides."
"One big problem is fear. It is a sign of weakness," His Holiness said.
"But you cannot hide from the rest of the world. A closed society has no future. It is in China's own interest," His Holiness said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also praised a speech by US President George Bush ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, in which he expressed "deep concerns" about freedom and human rights in China.
"That is the way, I fully agree," His Holiness said.
His Holiness has begun his 12-day visit Tuesday with a visit to Ganden Ling, a Buddhist institute in Veneux Les Sablons, located outside Paris. Later, His Holiness delivered a talk on peace and non-violence at a Vietnamese pagoda being built in Evry, south of Paris.
His Holiness will begin a six-day teaching series and a lecture at the Zenith Nantes Metropole, in Nantes on 15 August.
(Editing by Lobsang CHOEDAK)
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