Obama to encourage China and Dalai Lama to talk

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

PTI
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U.S. President Barack Obama waves during a town hall meeting to outline his new Small Business Lending Fund at Nashua High School North in New Hampshire, February 2, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)

Washington , Feb 17 -- US President Barack Obama would encourage both the Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama to continue to talk.

"The President would simply encourage the two parties to continue to talk," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, when asked about the Thursday's meeting between Obama and the Tibetan spiritual leader.

This is the first meeting between the two leaders.

Gibbs said readout would be provided after the two leaders meet in the Maple Room of the White House on Thursday morning.

China has asked the United States to cancel the meeting observing that such a meeting would hit the bilateral ties between the two countries.

However, the Obama Administration has ignored all such statements coming from Beijing.