Dalai Lama Concerned Over Growing Chinese Population in Tibet
March 2007
Kolkata, Jan 15 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader in exile the Dalai Lama today expressed concern over the growing Chinese population in Tibet.
The Dalai Lama, who was here to speak on 'Ethics in Human Development' at an event organised by the 'Young Mens' Welfare Society', said that Tibetans' demand for autonomy was being compromised by the Chinese authorities who were deliberately increasing their population in Tibet through immigration in the name of development.
"For meaningful autonomy in Tibet, its population should remain largely Tibetan," the Dalai Lama said.
He also stressed the need for improvement in the Indo-China relations, saying that good relations between the two countries were a must for the development of both countries as well as the entire Asia.
He said India and China should try to develop genuine friendship based on mutual trust. However, he added that relations between the two countries could only improve with a solution to the Tibet issue.
He emphasised that both countries should endeavour to find a solution to the Tibet problem as early as possible, "only then can it truly be said that India-China bhai bhai".
The Young Mens' Welfare Society, celebrating its 48th anniversary, felicitated the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan leader is scheduled to attend another function organised to commemorate the 2550th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre here later today.