Dharamshala: The high-level delegations from Deutsche Gruppe der Liberal International (DGLI) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) visited Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and received a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 22 and 23 March, respectively.
Dr Juergen Martess, President of DGLI and Dr Carsten Klein, Vice President Head (FNF South Asia), were the leading members of the visiting delegation. The delegations are from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and North Macedonia, along with staff from India and Bhutan.
To honour the visit of delegations consisting of prominent members from political, diplomatic, economic, religious, and education spectrums, CTA hosted a luncheon at Kashag Secretariat, during which they met and interacted with Sikyong Penpa Tsering. In addition, the delegation presented souvenirs to Sikyong on behalf of the group, including a small fragment of the Berlin wall that was dismantled in 1989.
Likewise, the visiting delegations also paid a visit to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and attended the ongoing parliamentary session as observers. The day-long engagement was concluded following a brief gathering at the Parliamentary Secretariat with Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang.
On 23 March, the delegations received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at His official residence in the morning.
Furthermore, the visiting delegations also visited Dalai Lama Library and Archives; The Tibet Museum; Dharamshala based civil society groups; Nechung Monastery, where they met with Nechung Kuten; Norbulingka Institute and Upper TCV (Tibetan Children’s Village) school.
In the evening, the Tibetan Parliament in Exile organised a gala dinner and cultural presentation for the FNF-led delegations.