Dharamsala, October 1 – As the People’s Republic of China today celebrates its 55th anniversary amid much fanfare and jubilation, the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their assistants have returned to Dharamsala. Mr. Lodi Gyari, the Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mr. Kelsang Gyalsten, His Holiness’ envoy to the EU, accompanied by their assistants, were on a visit to Beijing and some Tibetan areas.
With much optimism about the visit and an unusually welcoming reaction of the Chinese leadership in the media reports, the return of the delegation on PRC’s founding anniversary comes as little more than a sheer coincidence for the Tibetans.
This is the third visit of the same delegation since September 2002 when the contacts between Dharamsala and Beijing resumed after almost a decade-long standoff.
The delegation will meet Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration, and brief him about its visit.
Meanwhile, Prof. Rinpoche will leave for New Delhi later today. Rinpoche has been invited to address a function organised by the Jain Mahasabha, a Jain religious foundation, on the last day of the Bhadon, the holy month for the Jains. The day is also observed as the Universal Brotherhood and Forgiveness Day by the Jains.
PRESS STATEMENT
The envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, accompanied by two senior assistants Sonam Dagpo and Bhuchung Tsering, arrived in Dharamsala on October 1, 2004 from their trip to China. They had departed for China from India on September 12, 2004.
The envoys met Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche today. They will be reporting to His Holiness the Dalai Lama upon his return from his current Latin American visit. After a formal report to the Kashag and the Chairs of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, they may issue a public statement.
Thupten Samphel
Secretary
Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamsala
October 1, 2004
