03 July 2008
Dalai Lama's envoys return after talks with Beijing
(AP; Tibet.net) Envoys of the Dalai Lama returned to India following talks with representatives of the Chinese Government in Beijing. During the two-day session, Kelsang Gyaltsen and Lodi Gyari had a day-long discussion with Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice Minister Sithar, and also met Du Qinglin, head of the Party's United Front Work Department, which deals with ethnic minorities and religious groups. Lodi Gyari said that the latest round of talks with China was "one of the most difficult sessions" held so far, but that he will return for more discussions after the Beijing Olympics. In a statement, Gyari said: “While the Chinese side finally seems to have realised that their allegations against His Holiness for instigating the recent events in Tibet and in sabotaging the Olympics Games have become untenable, they are now urging His Holiness not to support violence, terrorism, and sabotaging the Olympics”. He added: “In the course of our discussions we were compelled to candidly convey to our counterparts that in the absence of serious and sincere commitment on their part the continuation of the present dialogue process would serve no purpose”.