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Latest update: 16/07/2011
- Barack Obama - China - Dalai Lama - Tibet - USA
Obama meets Dalai Lama despite China's protests
US President Barack Obama held a low-key meeting with the Dalai Lama on Saturday, reiterating support to the exiled Tibetan leader despite vocal protests from the Chinese government.
AFP - President Barack Obama on Saturday told the Dalai Lama of his "strong support" for human rights in Tibet during a meeting that defied warnings from China, the White House said.
The White House released a statement from the closed-press meeting along with a photograph, which showed a tieless Obama listening respectfully to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader in the executive mansion's private Map Room.
"The president reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world," the statement said.
"He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China."
Obama also reaffirmed that the United States considers Tibet to be a part of China. Beijing has insisted that the Dalai Lama is a separatist, although the Nobel laureate says he accepts Chinese rule and is seeking greater rights.
"The president stressed the importance he attaches to building a US-China cooperative partnership," it said.
Obama also stressed that he encourages direct dialogue to resolve longstanding differences and that a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans," the statement said.
"The Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government can soon resume," it said.
China has held nine rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys, the last in January 2010. But the dialogue has yielded no tangible progress, leading many Tibetans to believe Beijing is trying to wait out the 76-year-old monk's death in hopes that his calls for greater rights will wither away without him.



























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(9) Reactions
China versus world
I would like to see Tibetan people have their own lifes back. Imagine it for a minute. Why can't they have a normal life? It has been stressed out by many popular figures that Dalai Lama only want peace for his people,Obama included (glad he agreed to talk to Dalai L). The unbelievable fact is that the people aren't listening enough to fight this kind of slow pace genocide - World leaders' have mentioned it at some point but never dare to stand its ground - Europeans troops fought Balkans war and eventually stopped the stupid war. Well, you probably know by now that the powerful countries needed China and cheap factories to make their fortunes no matter what happens! All seeking for power, strong economy and less compassion.
My question How on Earth can we accept this ongoing live horror, humiliation, discrimination and so on...
Well there is ideas and solutions that will be tested, but why waiting?? Start now, spread the word around yourselves urging your friends, family and everyone else to boycote chinese products (that aren't respecting basic standards!! One easy step at the time to shrink their economy and make them realise that if we don't buy from them who will? Simples..
Dalai Lama
I consider Dalai Lama a man of God!
only in america
when the congress failed to work on the us debt,owed mostly to china if i'm not mistaken. obama was forced "again" to play the dalai lama card .just to send "another" message to china to " behave" and let the republicans treat their foreign debt the way they want,or ...?! they have only one rule ; against us and you pay the consequences or with us and play by our rules.i honestly love america ,but i do believe that some republicans will destroy this great country sooner or later . i hope i'm wrong ! obama is a good man !!!!
21st century colonies
Either Tibet or the Uighurs country has nothing to do with Chinese culture and they do not speak hans' mandarin
Why the decolonization body of UN DO NOT HAVE THEM IN THEIR AGENDA LIKE THEY HAVE PUERTO RICO OR WESTERN SAHARA?
HOW ARE THOSE DIFERENT FROM CHECHNYA?
USA has few more years to
USA has few more years to play this game. Might as well to enjoy it until it's too dangerous to play.
communist china is looting Tibet
Nobel Peace Laureate Obama must meet Nobelist Dalai Lama. Tibet was invaded not just for its land and mountains, but because of its gold mines and other natural treasures. As a result of this exploitation, China today is the largest gold mining country in the world - exceeding South Africa and Australia. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gold_production Tibet's gold and other minerals are being extracted and removed by over 6 million chinese laborers brought from other parts of china. Those numbers exceed the population of Tibetans. Nobel Peace Laureate Dalai Lama and the Tibetans opposed the chinese and they have refused him entry into Tibet and communist china for over 53 years, which is very cruel.
Dalai Lama
Meeting with His Holiness is the only decent thing
Mr Obama has ever done in his life.
Dalai lama is a tin God
There is no other G-d than the G-d of Israel existing. But the white house, where the people like to laugh about King David, is a good place for people like this. Obama is not a really wise man, to provoke the people who gave him billions of dollar credit. That's the way every US President is, they system is near collapse, but he went to China to propagate this free system of the USA, and that China should force the same inclusive free internet, that all chinese children can also see freeporn, games and violance. Violance is good for the weapon industry. China, a land with more than a billion human beens is not able to be ruled by a friendly leadership, everybody would dance on the table, better, they would bring the touble out of house on the streets and dance on the tables. What for China belongs in little , is the same issue for the whole world and the United Nations. For me Obama is only a puppet, a marionette, who not really yet understands, what the clock is ticking. Obama's time of being world leader is over in a few, and it is the best for the human race. He would guide you all into hell. That is really not nessecary. But will the Dalai lama then give thanks and praise to the G-d of Israel ?
Back off China!
It's none of the Chinese business to tell the Americans what to do or whom they can see. China has once again exposed its barbaric nature. Like an immature arrogant adolescent, China has been bullying everyone in the world. It's time China be taught a lesson on how to become a civilized nation.