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China offers to hold talks with Dalai Lama envoys

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama appearing at the Tibetan Children’s Village School to mark its 48th anniversary in Dharamshala on 25 October 2008. His two envoys will meet with Chinese leaders for a fresh round of talks after he indicated that the talks had failed.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

In response to the remarks over the weekend by the Dalai Lama indicating that talks with Chinese leaders have failed, China called upon the Dalai Lama to proceed for a fresh round of talks.

“Relevant departments of the Central Authorities of China will arrange another round of contacts and negotiation with the private representatives of the Dalai Lama ‘in the near future’ at the request of the Dalai Lama side,” Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported.

Xinhua published a report on Wednesday which quoted an unnamed official saying the government will meet with the Dalai Lama’s representatives despite the Lhasa “riots” in March and some serious disruptions and sabotages to the Beijing Olympic Games by a handful of “Tibet independence secessionists”.

The official has asked the Dalai Lama to “treasure this opportunity” and respond positively to the promises made in July this year.

The Dalai Lama has been advocating greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence, within the Chinese constitution through what he calls the “middle-way” policy to protect the distinctive Tibetan culture and environment.

The eighth round of talks had already been scheduled for the end of October, but no time or place has been announced.

Speaking in Dharamshala on 25 October, the Dalai Lama said he has “faith and trust” in the Chinese people but his “faith and trust in the Chinese government is diminishing,” and asked Tibetan people to decide their collective future in a special meeting from 17 to 22 November in Dharamshala.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun