New York: On 29 December, the Office of Tibet in Washington DC organised a Sino-Tibetan New Year Gathering event in New York as the new year approaches. Around 40 Chinese friends attended the gathering, including Chinese democracy advocates and intellectuals residing in the New York area, as well as young people who recently arrived from China.

Representatives from the Tibetan Community of New York & New Jersey, representatives from six major local Tibetan organisations and local chapter of Global Movement for Middle Way Approach, who volunteered to extend their assistance in organising the event, also took part in the event. The gathering proved to be an effective platform for Sino-Tibet dialogue.

Tsultrim Gyatso, the Chinese Liaison Officer of the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, stated that based on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guidance of non-violence movement, the office has been conducting outreach work to Chinese Community in North America and will continue to strengthen this work in the future. He also paid tribute to the recently deceased contemporary Tibet historian Li Jianglin, expressing gratitude for her work in helping many Chinese and foreign people understand Tibet’s true historical situation through her books and articles such as “Lhasa 1959” and “When the Iron Bird Flies.” He also mentioned that 2025 will be His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebration year, which the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has designated as the “Year of Compassion.” CTA plans to organise various activities throughout the year to introduce His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s noble vision and called on Chinese friends to help spread His ideas among the Chinese public whenever possible.

Students from the New York Wisdom Garden Tibetan Weekend School performed cultural presentations, demonstrating to Chinese friends how Tibetans learn and preserve their language and culture in the diaspora. The school currently has over 400 Tibetan students, predominantly born in America, studying Tibetan language and culture. Graduates return to teach language and cultural performances to younger students. This showcases how Tibetans are resisting the Chinese Communist government’s destruction of the Tibetan language and culture inside Tibet while also making every effort to preserve their language and culture in exile communities abroad. A student who was born in America and now teaches at Wisdom Garden School after graduating shared their experiences and views with the Chinese attendees.

Kalsang Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community of NY & NJ, welcomed the Chinese friends and explained that following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision, outreach work with the Chinese is very important, and the Community will continue to provide support and assistance.

Among the Chinese attendees who gave speeches were Hu Ping, a renowned editor of Beijing Spring magazine; Zhou Fengsuo, director of Human Rights in China (HRIC) and former Tiananmen student leader; Chen Chuangchuang, Secretary of the Chinese Democracy Party; Rong Wei, Founder of Bouden House; and Yang Ruohui, a Chinese youth leader involved in Chinese new generation movements including the White Paper Movement in China. They expressed gratitude for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s great contributions to humanity and praised His promotion of peace values worldwide through non-violent movement. They commended the Middle Way Policy that emerged from His Holiness’ wisdom and emphasised the importance of Sino-Tibetan dialogue event, calling for continued and intensified efforts. Led by Hu Ping, who knew Li Jianglin, recalled how she spread Tibet’s true history through her writings and expressed hope for more open-minded Chinese people like her in the future to support Tibet.

Under the lead of the local chapter of Global Movement on Middle Way Approach, Chinese friends were taught Tibetan cultural performances and circle dances, bringing the event to a joyful conclusion.

-Filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC