Washington DC, December 4, 2020: Today Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay had his first meeting with Conservative Party of Canada leadership under its new leader Erin O’Toole. The Conservative Party of Canada is the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada. Sikyong had an opportunity to brief Honourable Micheal Chong who is the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Through Mr. Chong, Sikyong thanked the Conservative Party for their historical support of the Tibetan people. He highlighted the past Conservative government support for notably meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama twice in government offices, international development funding for CTA and resettling 1000 Tibetans from Arunachal Pradesh. Both leaders agreed on the need to work with like-minded coalitions and nations to pressure Communist China to reach a peacefully negotiated settlement on the Tibetan issue via the Middle Way Approach.

Sikyong urged Mr. Chong to support the motion that was passed at the Special Committee on China as it moves up for consideration at the Standing Committee and then House of Commons. Mr. Chong committed to meet Sikyong publicly whether in opposition or in power. Mr. Chong agreed that the situation faced by Tibetans and Uyghurs is a case of cultural genocide.

The meeting was attended by Representative Ngodup Tsering and Tenzin D. Khangsar, who helped coordinate the meeting.

-Filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC