The Dalai Lama has welcomed a call by U.S. President Barack Obama for
the resumption of talks between Tibetan and Chinese envoys.
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader made the comments Tuesday to the Italian news agency ANSA, on a trip to northern Italy.
Hours
earlier, Mr. Obama held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in
Beijing, where he said Washington recognizes that Tibet is part of
China. The U.S. leader said he supports a resumption of talks between
envoys for Beijing and the Dalai Lama.
In Italy, the Dalai Lama
said he knows the U.S. interest in Tibet is strong, but he understands
there are limits to what the White House can say to China. He said he
appreciates President Obama's words.
Mr. Obama declined to meet
the Dalai Lama when the Buddhist leader visited Washington last month.
The White House says the two will meet after Mr. Obama's trip to
China. Critics say the White House delayed the meeting to avoid
upsetting Beijing before his visit.
The Chinese government
considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and often takes retaliatory
action against countries whose leaders meet him.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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Dalai Lama Welcomes US Appeal to China on Tibet
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