Sun Chunlan has been appointed Director of United Front Work Department (UFWD), reporting to China’s Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing, which is headed by Xi Jinping. This department manages “ethnic minorities”, including Tibet. UFWD has hosted dialogues between China and the Dalai Lama’s special envoy, but none have taken place since 2010. The United States State Department has urged China to resume talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives.