Washington DC: A virtual discussion on the legacy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the future status of Tibet was organised last Tuesday by the U.S-based Sunrise Media. The meeting was attended by Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa of the Office of Tibet, Taiwan, Tsultrim Gyatso (Chinese Liaison Officer of Washington’s Office of Tibet) and Dawa Sangmo (Chinese Liaison Officer of Canberra’s Office of Tibet).

The other speakers at the virtual session include Huping (Chief Editor of Beijing Spring), Sheng Xue (Democratic Rights Activist), Lily Tan (representative from Taiwan) and Feng Chongyi (Professor in Sydney). The Chinese speakers at the meeting unequivocally issued statements commending the relevance of His Holiness’ teaching of compassion and altruism in today’s world while expressing hope for a prompt resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict. Speaker Huping pointed out that His Holiness’s proposal of the Middle Way Approach was a wise recommendation for the counterparts in Beijing if the latter is willing to come on board.

Representative Bawa spoke on the four principal commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Tsultrim Gyatso briefly explained the statement issued by the 16th Kashag of the CTA on the 88th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and meanwhile, Dawa Sangmo spoke on the importance of cultivating inner well-being as prescribed repeatedly by His Holiness during all his teachings.

During the same meeting, the recent remarks made by His Holiness regarding his willingness to engage in both official and unofficial dialogue with Chinese authorities were discussed and Representative Bawa provided answers to the Chinese speakers on the same matter and presented further views on the standing situation between Tibet and China.

On 14 July, Sunrise Media organised a discussion in remembrance of Yan Mingfu, who passed away recently. Yang Mingfu was Mao Zedong’s interpreter and a negotiator who sought to defuse the standoff between the party and student protesters occupying Tiananmen Square in 1989. Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer attended the seminar along with Huping, Su Xiaokang, Chen Kuide, and many other intellectuals and Yan Jiaqi sent in his recorded message.

Tsultrim Gyatso spoke about his knowledge of Yang Mingfu through the written materials of the older generation of Tibetans. He acknowledged the contributions of Yang Mingfu in forging the Tibet-China dialogue. He also highlighted the close friendship between the 10th Panchen Lama and Yang Mingfu. He urged the Chinese intellectuals and scholars inside China who are aware of the predicament of Tibetans to support the Tibetan struggle for truth and justice.

-Reported by OOT, Washington