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Dalai Lama opens Sino-Tibetan conference in Geneva

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The Dalai Lama meeting Chinese delegates during the Tibetan and Chinese scholars conference on 6 August 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Dalai Lama said he is reaching out to Chinese people as contacts with the Chinese government are becoming difficult.Agentur Focus Hamburg/Manuel Bauer/Switzerland

The Dalai Lama said that he is reaching out to the Chinese people as contacts with the Chinese government are becoming difficult, as he opened a conference of Tibetan and Chinese scholars in Geneva, reports Tibet.net, the official website of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

“Our contacts with the Chinese government are becoming difficult. So we are reaching out to our Chinese brothers and sisters. There is growing support,” the Dalai Lama is quoted as saying in the opening remarks of a conference of Tibetan and Chinese scholars in Geneva on 6 August.

However, he said, “I expect no miracle.”

He pointed out that there is a problem in Tibet, and the issue needs to be solved.

“How to do it (to solve the Tibetan issue) is something we need to discuss,” and said he would like to hear views of the Chinese people on the matter.

The conference, attended by over 100 Chinese and Tibetan scholars from 12 countries, was organised by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association.

The Dalai Lama told the gathering that he is only seeking autonomy for Tibet, not independence, based on what he calls the ‘Middle-Way’ approach.

“In Tibet, there is a crisis. Huge demonstrations were there all over Tibet. Severe restrictions were imposed. These demonstrations grew out of grievances through the generations. Most of the people who participated in the emonstrations are young. There is a need for a realistic response.”

While appreciating the more than 600 articles written by Chinese on the issue of Tibet in a positive light, he urged Chinese scholars who understand the Tibetan issue to write and make things clear to the rest of the Chinese people.

He said he has been frequently meeting as many Chinese as possible to clarify the Tibetan issue.

“So it is our mutual responsibility to solve this issue without separation,” he said.

Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche also addressed the delegates. He took questions on a wide-range of issues from Chinese scholars.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

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