Over the objections of the Chinese Government, President Obama today welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the White House. In their meeting, Obama expressed strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China.
According to a statement by Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, “the president commended the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” approach, his commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government.”
President Obama during the meeting reiterated his call for both sides– China and Tibet– to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences and expressed his pleasure with the recent resumption of talks.
Both the Dalai Lama and the president agreed on the importance of positive Sino-US relations.
Obama, mindful of China’s growing standing in the world economy and the fact that its government holds some $800 billion in U.S. debt, kept the meeting low-keyed so as not to antagonize the government.
There are reports that China is displeased over the meeting Obama and the Dalai Lama.
