By Christopher Smart
The Salt Lake Tribune
All Pema Chagzoetsang wanted to do was promote a little friendship. But nothing is easy where Tibet and China are concerned.Chagzoetsang, an American citizen originally from the city of Lhasa, Tibet, applied for Sister City status for her hometown with Salt Lake City’s Sister City Committee.
In her application, she made clear she was putting forth the effort only as a private citizen and had to seek approval from Lhasa officials. Nonetheless, a dozen Chinese-Americans attended Friday’s board meeting to protest the application.
Bo Lu, the president of the Utah Chapter of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology, told the board that Chagzoetsang’s application was improper.
“As you all know, Tibet is an autonomous district of the People’s Republic of China,” he said. “We have confirmed from the Chinese Embassy that the Lhasa local government did not authorize Pema Chagzoetsang to pursue such a relationship.”
The Rev. Pat Carley, who sits on the board, said that there is nothing wrong with an individual initiating a Sister City or Friendship City relationship as long as formal approval is obtained at some point.
“Most of these Sister City relationships begin like this,” he said. A relationship between Lhasa and Salt Lake City would be exciting, Chagzoetsang said. “It could be a cultural and economic opportunity for exchange.”
The board tabled the matter and asked Chagzoetsang and Lu to work toward an agreement. No date was scheduled for a rehearing.
