London, UK: President Dr Lobsang Sangay wrapped up his five-nation visit with engagements in London, UK. He arrived in London for the final leg of his five-nation tour on Wednesday, 22 November.
Explaining how the Central Tibetan Administration managed all its humanitarian and social projects frugally in the most effective manner, Dr. Sangay called on the invited guests to associate more closely with Tibet House Trust and to support their projects.
Dr Sangay was the guest speaker at the meeting of All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet that was chaired by Rt. Hon Tim Loughton MP of the ruling Conservative Party. Despite the fact that his visit coincided with the opening of the autumn budget, a number of Parliamentarians attended the meeting.
Making the case for how Tibet was a litmus test for the whole world, Dr. Sangay spoke about how the free nations in the world are presented with a clear choice to either transform China into a free country embracing liberal values or the free nations become more like China. He further called for a well coordinated multi-lateral mechanism to deal with rising China.
Speaking about the Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, Dr. Sangay said that this basically meant no liberal democracy and no freedom but rather a one-party rule.
Drawing parallels with the first construction of road in occupied Tibet in 1950s, Dr. Sangay iterated that the Belt and Road Initiative is more of resource exploitation from the participating nations to enrich China. He called on free nations around the world, especially UK, to support the peaceful, non-violent Tibetan freedom struggle by issuing statements of support periodically.
The Tibet Society, Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet and Rt Hon Tim Loughton, MP hosted a lunch in honour of the President in the Parliament.
Dr. Sangay also gave a live interview with host Yalda Hakim for the Impact program of the BBC World TV.
On being asked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s decision to cut down on his international travels and to instead ask Dr Sangay as one of the trusted emissaries to advocate on his behalf, Dr Sangay spoke about the challenges of filling into the huge shoes, and assured that His Holiness was in excellent health.
Dr Sangay also spoke about the threat to liberal values such as democracy and freedom around the world due to China’s increasing role on the global stage and more particularly through the Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.
The 7-minute live television interview wrapped up the President’s two-day visit to London and his five-nation visit.
Following his visit to London, Dr Sangay landed in Delhi yesterday where he hosted a lunch for the visiting Australian parliamentary delegation led by Senator Derryn Hinch.