STATEMENT BY SPECIAL ENVOY OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA, KASUR LODI GYARI, HEAD OF THE DELEGATION WHICH VISITED CHINA IN JANUARY 2010
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Envoy Kelsang
Gyaltsen and I, accompanied by two members of our Task Force, Tenzin P.
Atisha and Bhuchung K. Tsering, and Jigmey Passang from the Task Force
Secretariat, visited China from January 26 to 31, 2010, for the ninth
round of discussions with representatives of the Chinese leadership.
This round was held after a gap of 15 months. We returned to Dharamsala
on February 1, 2010 and have formally reported today to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, as well as the Speaker
and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. In
Beijing, we had a session with Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as well as Minister
of the Central United Front Work Department, on January 30. We had a
day-long discussion with Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice
Minister Sithar on January 31, 2010. Mr. Nyima Tsering, a Vice Chairman
of the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Congress, also participated in
these meetings. We first
arrived in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, on January 26, 2010.
Before beginning our programmes there, we formally presented to the
Central United Front Work Department, a Note relating to the Memorandum
on Genuine Autonomy for All Tibetans that we had given during the
previous eighth round of dialogue in November 2008. The Note contained
seven points that addressed the fundamental issues raised by the
Chinese leadership during the eighth round and some constructive
suggestions for a way forward in the dialogue process. The seven points
include respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC,
respecting the Constitution of the PRC, respecting the “Three
Adherences,” respecting the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese
Central Government, Concerns raised by the Central Government on
specific competencies referred to the Memorandum, recognising the core
issue, and offering His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s cooperation for a
mutually beneficial solution. The
Note made clear that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other members of
the exiled leadership have no personal demands to make. His Holiness’
concern is with the rights and welfare of the Tibetan people.
Therefore, the fundamental issue that needs to be resolved is the
faithful implementation of genuine autonomy that will enable the
Tibetan people to govern themselves in accordance with their own genius
and needs.His Holiness the
Dalai Lama speaks on behalf of the Tibetan people, with whom he has a
deep and historical relationship and one based on full trust. It
cannot be disputed that His Holiness legitimately represents the
Tibetan people, and he is certainly viewed as their true representative
and spokesperson by them. It is indeed only by means of dialogue with
His Holiness the Dalai Lama that the Tibetan issue can be resolved.
The recognition of this reality is important. We
emphasised the point that His Holiness’ engagement for the cause of
Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or
political position for himself, nor attempting to stake claims for the
Tibetan Administration in Exile. We
called upon the Chinese side to stop the baseless accusations against
His Holiness and labeling him a separatist. Instead, we urge the
Chinese leadership to work with him to find a mutually acceptable
solution to the Tibetan problem based on the Memorandum. This will
ensure stability, unity and the development of a harmonious society. The
Chinese side laid out “Four Not to Indulge In” points to outline their
position. They also provided us with a detailed briefing on recent
developments relating to Tibet, particularly on the important Fifth
Tibet Work Forum. They said the Forum decided to further improve the
livelihood of Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and all Tibetan
areas, specifically in public services, such as education, medical
services, and environmental protection. Based on the initial reports
that we had of the Forum, we welcomed the issues it has taken up to
improve the lives of the Tibetan people specially in rural areas. We
welcome the fact that the Fifth Tibet Work Forum has looked into the
issues of development in all Tibetan areas – The Tibet Autonomous
Region as well as other Tibetan areas. It is our strong belief that
all the Tibetan areas must be under a uniform policy and a single
administration. If we take away the political slogans, many of the
issues that have been prioritised by the Forum are similar to the basic
needs of the Tibetan people outlined in our Memorandum.A
major difference between the two sides is the conflicting perspectives
on the current situation inside Tibet. So, in order to have a common
understanding of the real situation, we suggested a common effort to
study the actual reality on the ground, in the spirit of seeking truth
from facts. This will help both the sides to move beyond each others’
contentions. In the
coming days we will be studying the issues raised by our counterparts,
including the proceedings of the Fifth Tibet Work Forum and the “Four
Not to Indulge In” points. As we had urged during our meeting, it is my
sincere hope that the Chinese leadership will also seriously reflect on
the issues raised by us. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
consistently made his position clear on the future of Tibet within the
framework of the People’s Republic of China, given political will on
the Chinese leadership’s side we do not see any reason why we cannot
find a common ground on these issues. We would like to reiterate His
Holiness’s continued willingness to work with the Chinese Central
Government in this so that the Tibetan people can regain their pride
and dignity and the People’s Republic of China’s stability and unity
are ensured.
Gyaltsen and I, accompanied by two members of our Task Force, Tenzin P.
Atisha and Bhuchung K. Tsering, and Jigmey Passang from the Task Force
Secretariat, visited China from January 26 to 31, 2010, for the ninth
round of discussions with representatives of the Chinese leadership.
This round was held after a gap of 15 months. We returned to Dharamsala
on February 1, 2010 and have formally reported today to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, as well as the Speaker
and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. In
Beijing, we had a session with Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as well as Minister
of the Central United Front Work Department, on January 30. We had a
day-long discussion with Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice
Minister Sithar on January 31, 2010. Mr. Nyima Tsering, a Vice Chairman
of the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Congress, also participated in
these meetings. We first
arrived in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, on January 26, 2010.
Before beginning our programmes there, we formally presented to the
Central United Front Work Department, a Note relating to the Memorandum
on Genuine Autonomy for All Tibetans that we had given during the
previous eighth round of dialogue in November 2008. The Note contained
seven points that addressed the fundamental issues raised by the
Chinese leadership during the eighth round and some constructive
suggestions for a way forward in the dialogue process. The seven points
include respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC,
respecting the Constitution of the PRC, respecting the “Three
Adherences,” respecting the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese
Central Government, Concerns raised by the Central Government on
specific competencies referred to the Memorandum, recognising the core
issue, and offering His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s cooperation for a
mutually beneficial solution. The
Note made clear that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other members of
the exiled leadership have no personal demands to make. His Holiness’
concern is with the rights and welfare of the Tibetan people.
Therefore, the fundamental issue that needs to be resolved is the
faithful implementation of genuine autonomy that will enable the
Tibetan people to govern themselves in accordance with their own genius
and needs.His Holiness the
Dalai Lama speaks on behalf of the Tibetan people, with whom he has a
deep and historical relationship and one based on full trust. It
cannot be disputed that His Holiness legitimately represents the
Tibetan people, and he is certainly viewed as their true representative
and spokesperson by them. It is indeed only by means of dialogue with
His Holiness the Dalai Lama that the Tibetan issue can be resolved.
The recognition of this reality is important. We
emphasised the point that His Holiness’ engagement for the cause of
Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or
political position for himself, nor attempting to stake claims for the
Tibetan Administration in Exile. We
called upon the Chinese side to stop the baseless accusations against
His Holiness and labeling him a separatist. Instead, we urge the
Chinese leadership to work with him to find a mutually acceptable
solution to the Tibetan problem based on the Memorandum. This will
ensure stability, unity and the development of a harmonious society. The
Chinese side laid out “Four Not to Indulge In” points to outline their
position. They also provided us with a detailed briefing on recent
developments relating to Tibet, particularly on the important Fifth
Tibet Work Forum. They said the Forum decided to further improve the
livelihood of Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and all Tibetan
areas, specifically in public services, such as education, medical
services, and environmental protection. Based on the initial reports
that we had of the Forum, we welcomed the issues it has taken up to
improve the lives of the Tibetan people specially in rural areas. We
welcome the fact that the Fifth Tibet Work Forum has looked into the
issues of development in all Tibetan areas – The Tibet Autonomous
Region as well as other Tibetan areas. It is our strong belief that
all the Tibetan areas must be under a uniform policy and a single
administration. If we take away the political slogans, many of the
issues that have been prioritised by the Forum are similar to the basic
needs of the Tibetan people outlined in our Memorandum.A
major difference between the two sides is the conflicting perspectives
on the current situation inside Tibet. So, in order to have a common
understanding of the real situation, we suggested a common effort to
study the actual reality on the ground, in the spirit of seeking truth
from facts. This will help both the sides to move beyond each others’
contentions. In the
coming days we will be studying the issues raised by our counterparts,
including the proceedings of the Fifth Tibet Work Forum and the “Four
Not to Indulge In” points. As we had urged during our meeting, it is my
sincere hope that the Chinese leadership will also seriously reflect on
the issues raised by us. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
consistently made his position clear on the future of Tibet within the
framework of the People’s Republic of China, given political will on
the Chinese leadership’s side we do not see any reason why we cannot
find a common ground on these issues. We would like to reiterate His
Holiness’s continued willingness to work with the Chinese Central
Government in this so that the Tibetan people can regain their pride
and dignity and the People’s Republic of China’s stability and unity
are ensured.
We thank our hosts,
the Hunan United Front, Beijing United Front, and the Central United
Front Work Department, for their hospitality during this visit.
the Hunan United Front, Beijing United Front, and the Central United
Front Work Department, for their hospitality during this visit.
February 2, 2010Dharamsala