US Secretary of State expresses Optimism on China-Tibet Talks
Monday, 30 June 2008, 3:47 p.m.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a press conference in Beijing |
Dharamshala: US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that she was encouraged by the
Chinese government’s decision to hold talks with His Holiness the Dalai
Lama’s envoys, but pressed China’s leaders on sensitive human rights
issues, AFP reported Monday.
Secretary Rice’s talks with China’s leaders came on the second and
final day of her trip to China, which was the last stop on a
three-nation tour to Asia.
Rice told reporters the recent unrest in Tibet was also
discussed, with the top US diplomat expressing cautious optimism over
Beijing’s decision to hold further talks with envoys of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama.
“I am encouraged that there at least will be a second round of
talks,” she said. “I hope that there will be some positive developments
and some momentum behind the talks.”
However she repeated that the United States did not accept
China’s accusations that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was bent on
achieving independence for Tibet.
“The Dalai Lama is a figure of considerable moral authority. He
is a figure who has rejected violence. He is a figure who talks about
cultural and religious historical autonomy,” she said.
“He doesn’t push for political independence.”
The envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will arrive today in
China to hold the seventh round of discussions with the Chinese
leadership.
The discussions will take place from 1 to 2 July in Beijing.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has instructed the envoys to make
every effort to bring about tangible progress to alleviate the
difficult situation for Tibetans in their homeland. It is hoped that
this rounds of talks will contribute in resolving the long simmering
issue through dialogue in the interest of stability, unity and harmony
of all nationalities in the People’s Republic of China.