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Dalai Lama envoys leave for China for eighth round of talks

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Two envoys of the Dalai Lama Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen in a file photo taken on 5 July 2008 arriving for a press conference in Dharamshala. Assistant Bhuchung K Tsering is also seen in the photo. The two envoys, accompanied by three assistants, have arrived in Beijing for further talks with Chinese leaders. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

The two envoys of the Dalai Lama are arriving in Beijing today for the eighth round of talks with the Chinese leaders, according to a press release from the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the two envoys, are accompanied by three senior assistants.

The team will be in Beijing for about a week as a follow-up of the 7th round of talks, according to the press release.

The Envoys had their final briefing from the Prime Minister of the exile government Professor Samdhong Rinpoche in New Delhi.

Exile government spokesman Thubten Samphel said that the team left for Beijing early today from the Indian capital.

In a rare admission by China that talks are being held with the envoys of the Dalai Lama, an unnamed official announced that the central government will arrange another round of talks with the private representatives of the Dalai Lama at the request of the Dalai Lama side, and asked him to “treasure this opportunity” of dialogue.

In the earlier meetings the envoys held talks with the officials of the United Work Front Department of the Communist Party of China, which deals with ethnic minorities and religious issues.

The Dalai Lama announced on 25 October that his efforts to resolve the Tibetan issue through his middle-way policy seeking autonomy, not independence, was proving a failure, and asked the Tibetans to decide the future of the Tibetan movement in a meeting in Dharamshala from 17 to 22 November.

He said he has faith and trust in the Chinese people, but his faith and trust in the Chinese government is diminishing.

He will only hold talks with China on the future of Tibet if Beijing “honestly” wishes to engage in dialogue.

“If the Chinese leadership honestly engages in talks, then I may be in a position to take up this responsibility again. I will, then, sincerely engage with them,” he said.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun