15 August 2006
Kalon Tripa takes office
(Phayul) The Dalai Lama formally appointed Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche the Kalon Tripa (Tibet's Prime Minister in exile) of the 13th Kashag (Cabinet) for the second consecutive term in office. At an official ceremony, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche took the Oath of Office and Secrecy before the Dalai Lama. Later on the day, he met briefly with a group of local media, both Tibetan and Indian, to update them of his second term in the office and thank the Tibetans in exile for their support. Rinpoche stated that his new administration would make more efforts towards continuing the current Sino-Tibetan dialogue process based on the Middle-Way Approach. Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said that his new administration is already in the preparatory process to dispatch the two envoys of the Dalai Lama for their sixth round of talks with China and that there would be no change from his administration in its determination to continue and improve the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process.