Thursday, September 10, 2009

US for dialogue between China, Dalai Lama

WASHINGTON, D.C. (PTI) - The United States encourages open exchange between China and the Dalai Lama on the issue of Tibet, an Obama Adminis-tration official said today: "We have immense respect for the Dalai Lama. He is one of the leading spiritual figures in the world, and we have always encouraged a more open exchange between China and the Dalai Lama and his followers," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters at his daily news briefing. Responding to a question, he said the United States is not aware of any specific plans for the Dalai Lama to go back to Tibet. "So I can't comment on how we would stand on it right now," he said. "But we do encourage more dialogue," he added. Source