DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, today congratulated Mr. Justin Trudeau, the new prime minister-elect of Canada for his party’s victory in the recently concluded Canadian election.

“On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people, I would like to congratulate you and your party’s decisive victory in the Canadian general election and wish you all the best for your new responsibility as the prime minister,” Sikyong wrote in his congratulatory letter.

“I also wish to thank your party for endorsing the Tibet cause during the election campaign and encouraging the Chinese government to engage with the Tibetan political leadership in a spirit of constructive dialogue. As you have rightly pointed out, dialogue, not confrontation, is the key to resolving the critical situation in Tibet,” Sikyong said.

“I am grateful for the people and Government of Canada for their support to the Tibetan people by  facilitating the immigration of up to 1000 Tibetans living in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. I look forward to your continued support on the issue of Tibet so as to resolve the critical situation prevailing inside Tibet,” he added.

Mr. Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party, is the son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau. The new prime minister-elect has met His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his public talk in Toronto in 2004. He has also introduced His Holiness before the public talk.