Dharamshala: A four-member delegation of the French Senate led by Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio arrived in Dharamshala on Thursday for a five-day visit.
The delegation met with Sikyong Penpa Tsering yesterday at the Cabinet Secretariat to discuss key issues concerning the Sino-Tibet conflict and the welfare of Tibetans in exile.
This morning, the delegation met with Kalon Norzin Dolma and senior officials of the Department of Information and International Relations. Kalon extended gratitude to the delegation particularly Senator Brinio for constantly highlighting the critical predicament of Tibetans in Tibet and advocating strong support for the resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
Following their meeting, the delegation visited Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat and met with Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang. The two thanked the delegation for their support and solidarity with the Tibetan cause. The delegates were briefed on the evolution of democracy in the Tibetan community, the composition of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, and the functioning of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
On Monday, the delegates will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is expected to return from Delhi where His Holiness attended a two-day Buddhist summit.
During their stay in Dharamshala, the French delegates are scheduled to visit various Tibetan institutions – educational, cultural, religious and social and have exchanges with the representatives of the Tibetan civil societies in and around Dharamshala.