Tibetan scholar meets the press

A Chinese Tibetan scholar on Thursday in Washington called for more cultural exchanges between China and the United States to help Americans better understand Tibet and the Tibetan culture.

The international community pays close attention to China's Tibet, not only because of its environment and landscape, but also the profound traditional culture of the Tibetan people, Professor Shesrabnyima, head of a delegation of scholars on Tibetan culture and Living Buddhas in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province, said at a press conference at the Chinese embassy in the United States.

During his visit to the United States over the past few days, Shesrabnyima said, he felt that the American public knows little about Tibet, and sometimes holds biased views about Tibet due to one-sided news coverage of events there.

He called for more cultural exchanges between China and the United States to help Americans get a better understanding of Tibet and the Tibetan culture.

On the issue of the Dalai Lama, Shesrabnyima, also vice president of the Beijing-based Central University for Nationalities, said that as a scholar, he believes the Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but also an exiled political activist. He added that so long as the Dalai Lama shows respect for the existing political and economic systems in Tibet, there will be no problem with regard to his return to Tibet.

On the Dalai Lama's visit to Britain, Sun Weide, spokesman for the Chinese embassy, said China had expressed regret and dissatisfaction with the British side on the visit.

China has reiterated its stance to Britain that China opposes the Dalai Lama's activities aimed at splitting China and damaging national unity, and also opposes any country extending official invitation to the Dalai Lama in any form or name, he said.

The delegation, organized by the Chinese Association for Cultural Exchanges with Foreign Countries, arrived in Washington on Wednesday after a three-day visit to Los Angeles, California, for exchange programs with US relevant departments and organizations on Tibetan history and current situation, and Tibetan culture and Buddhism.