Photo: tibet.net
The United States Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Special Coordinator for Tibet Issues, arrived in Dharamahala, home of the Tibetan government-in-exile and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on May 17 for a two day official visit, to confirm and discuss US support for the Tibetan issue. The US Joe Biden administration appointed Under Secretary Uzra Zeya as the Special Coordinator for Tibet affairs in December last year and this is her first official visit to Tibetan communities since her appointment. It is also her first meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the newly elected Tibetan leader, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also known as the Tibetan government-in-exile, and the opportunity for her to interact with Tibetans working in various nongovernmental institutes, and to visit schools and monasteries.
“A high-level visitation from the US such as this one signifies the latter’s momentous support for the Tibetan issue,” said the CTA’s official website.
With His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Photo: OHHDL
Uzra Zeya and her delegation were granted a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence, along with the Sikyong Penpa Tsering. “I am President Biden’s special coordinator for Tibetan issues and I am honoured to be received by you,” said Uzra Zeya while conveying greetings from the US President Joe Biden and the American people. She expressed their gratitude for His Holiness’s message of peace for the world and offered good wishes for the good health of His Holiness. The delegation briefed His Holiness on the United States’ continued commitment to support the preservation of Tibetan culture, religion, language and identity.
Expressing his happiness to meet the Special Coordinator for Tibet, His Holiness applauded the rich tradition of democracy and freedom in the US and India and shared his four main commitments in life, the promotion of universal values, the promotion of religious harmony, the preservation of Tibet’s culture and environment and the revival of ancient Indian wisdom. His Holiness added “it is clear that despite decades of effort by Chinese communists to change the minds of Tibetans, they have completely failed”. He continued, saying that meanwhile the mindset of the Chinese people is also rapidly changing and “Socialism and Marxism are now gone”.
Ms Zeyalater met members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, visited the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) and the Tibet Museum, as well as meeting members of Tibetan civil society.
Boudha Stupa, Nepal
Photo: Twitter
The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticised Zeya’s visit to Tibetan leaders, saying that the US appointment of the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues is interference in China’s internal affairs. “The US should earnestly abide by its commitment that Tibet is a part of China and not supporting Tibet’s independence,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, adding that the “so-called Tibetan government in exile is an out and out separatist political group. It is a grave violation of China’s Constitution and law.”
Following her visit to Dharamshala, Ms Zeya and her delegation of four members left for a three-day official visit to Nepal where they met Tibetan refugees living in Nepal and learned about the problems faced by them.
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