DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile held an extensive discussion on the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India yesterday. Xi Jinping is coming to India on a three—day visit from today. This is his first visit to India since his appointment as the Chinese president in 2013 and is expected to affirm closer ties between the two countries.

Addressing the Parliament, Tibetan political leader Dr Lobsang Sangay yesterday expressed his optimism over Mr Xi Jinping’s visit to India. He emphasised that Tibet is key to resolving the border disputes between the two countries. He said: “President Xi Jinping is coming to India on a three-day visit coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. During his 3 day visit, he will try to restore harmonious relations with India. India will also try to bolster its bilateral relations particularly its economic ties with China. We respect India ‘s commitment to form peaceful relations with all its neighbours. We believe that a strong Sino-Indian relation would be beneficial to the Tibet cause.”

“During his three-day travel around India, we hope that President Xi Jinping will gain some insights by seeing the unity in diversity of India’s languages and people. The foundation of India is based on a strong belief in principles of democracy and freedom. The hard line policies practiced by China in Tibet have persisted for generations. The third generation of Tibetans have now started protesting against the Chinese government. The main cause of the Tibetan people’s grievance is the lack of freedom in Tibet. Therefore, the biggest lesson that India can give to China is its belief in principles of freedom and democracy,” he said.

He also urged the Chinese president to lift restrictions imposed on the Tibetan people and ensure that the Tibetan people are granted their rights as enshrined in the Chinese constitution. He explained that at least 130 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against the Chinese government’s repressive policies.

The Tibetan political leader urged the Chinese president to resolve the issue of Tibet through Middle-Way Approach for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said Tibetans in exile must make sure that Xi Jinping understand the gravity of the situation inside Tibet. He underlined that Tibetans holding demonstrations during the Chinese president’s visit must be peaceful and non-violent.

10 Tibetans arrested over protest in Delhi

Tibetan political leader Dr Lobsang Sangay underlined that demonstrations by Tibetans during President Xi’s visit to India must be peaceful, legal and dignified.

Delhi Police detained Tibetan Youth Congress protesters who were agitating against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day stay to India today. They were protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in Delhi, ANI reported.