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Dalai Lama says he is ready to go to China
Washington, Sept 25: The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, said he was willing to do almost anything to settle the issue of Tibet, even if it meant going to China personally.
Washington, Sept 25: The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, said he was willing to do almost anything to settle the issue of Tibet, even if it meant going to China personally.
"To find a mutual agreement or solution, I am ready to meet the Chinese leadership or, if I get a chance, to meet the Tibetans inside Tibet and explain or clarify my position," he told the voice of America, a US government-funded broadcasting service, yesterday.
"I believe this would be very beneficial," he stressed, rejecting the notion he had any separatist designs. "I have reiterated like a mantra that I am not seeking independence, I am not trying to separate Tibet from China," he said. "I am only seeking a genuine autonomy for Tibet, but the Chinese leadership has a hard time believing what I am saying. This is why a face-to-face meeting is very important."
The Buddhist spiritual leader pointed out that the situation was so urgent that he is ready to send his envoys to China for talks at any time. The Dalai Lama expressed hope that renewed contact with the Chinese leadership would build confidence and trust and clear up misunderstandings and suspicions among them.
He said that the economic development of the last 20 or 30 years and China's contact with the outside world have changed the way the Chinese people think.
More and more Chinese desire democracy, freedom, and rule by law, he said, adding that he has always believed that these changes within China would have a positive impact on resolving the Sino-Tibetan problem. Bureau Report
"I believe this would be very beneficial," he stressed, rejecting the notion he had any separatist designs. "I have reiterated like a mantra that I am not seeking independence, I am not trying to separate Tibet from China," he said. "I am only seeking a genuine autonomy for Tibet, but the Chinese leadership has a hard time believing what I am saying. This is why a face-to-face meeting is very important."
The Buddhist spiritual leader pointed out that the situation was so urgent that he is ready to send his envoys to China for talks at any time. The Dalai Lama expressed hope that renewed contact with the Chinese leadership would build confidence and trust and clear up misunderstandings and suspicions among them.
He said that the economic development of the last 20 or 30 years and China's contact with the outside world have changed the way the Chinese people think.
More and more Chinese desire democracy, freedom, and rule by law, he said, adding that he has always believed that these changes within China would have a positive impact on resolving the Sino-Tibetan problem. Bureau Report