China-Dalai Lama envoys’ meet put off

The much awaited formal round of “crucial” talks between the special emissaries of the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader - the Dalai Lama and representatives of the Chinese government, scheduled for June 11, has been postponed.

The much awaited formal round of “crucial” talks between the special emissaries of the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader - the Dalai Lama and representatives of the Chinese government, scheduled for June 11, has been postponed due to China’s focus on relief and restoration work in the earthquake hit Sichuan region in which more than 69,000 people died.

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Dalai Lama’s aides here confirmed to HT the next round of talks had been deferred.
“Dates for the seventh round of talks had been fixed prior to the earthquake that hit China. We are trying to work out fresh dates,” said Tenzing Taklha joint-secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office.

He did not say anything about the date for the next round of talks.

But if sources are to be believed, the next round of talks could possibly take place by the end of this month or in the first week of July.

Although there has been no official information from China on the postponement, officials in the Central Tibetan Administration confirmed that the Chinese side had conveyed to the Dalai Lama’s representatives about deferring the meeting.