Dalai Lama pitches for better Sino-Indian relation

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Express Buzz
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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama moves prayer wheels after inaugurating the Stupa (Pagoda) in Jeerang, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Bhubaneswar, India, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

JERANG: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today said he wanted China to be ‘transparent’ for ensuring good relations between Beijing and Delhi.

“I support and wish for peaceful and improved relations between India and China based on honesty and transparency as it involves the lives of billions of people. There should be mutual trust between the two countries.

Unfortunately, China has not been transparent,” Dalai Lama told mediapersons at Rigton Thupton Mindolling Monastery of Phuntokling Tibetan settlement in Jerang.

To a question, the spiritual leader said despite China’s protests, Tibetans have already completed 50 years in India. He expressed his gratitude to both the State and Central governments for their support to the Tibetans in the last five decades.

He also expressed concern at the impact of climate change on Tibetan plateau and implications of global warming to Tibet.

Dalai Lama said due to global warming glaciers have started melting and unless steps are taken to stop the phenomenon, it would take longer time to restore ecological balance in the region.

On Maoist threat to Tibetans in India against the backdrop of China’s opposition to autonomy to Tibet, Dalai Lama said he did not see any such threat. “Violence is not a solution to any problem. The problems can be solved through dialogues and discussions.” Describing Chandragiri as one of the oldest Tibetan settlements in the country, the spiritual leader said that the place needed to be developed.

His stay at Jerang was cut short from four to three days.

Before leaving for Bhubaneswar in the afternoon, he visited the Phodrang (the old palace) at Chandragiri and consecrated the Enlightenment Stupa at Jerang.