"Finding Common Ground" – Sino-Tibetan Conference

The statement of consensus of the conference listed several points including the need to hold the conference «Finding Common Ground» annually.

More than 70 participants from 15 countries and regions including among others from Europe, the Americas, Australia and China took part at the Sino-Tibetan Conference “Finding Common Ground” from 26 – 28 August 2014 in Hamburg, Germany.

In conjunction with His visit to Hamburg, His Holiness the Dalai Lama graced the participants with an audience and said, “I give special attention to contacts between the Chinese and Tibetan people and strongly support it. In the 1950s, I had expressed my wish to go to Mount Wutai Shan for a pilgrimage which has not yet materialized, but I still have the desire to go there for a pilgrimage”. His Holiness the Dalai Lama further said, “President Xi Jinping said that Buddhism has an important role to play in reviving Chinese culture. Being a Buddhist I can definitely make my contribution to this.”

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, elected political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, in his keynote address, said that historically Tibetan and Chinese people have existed peacefully with each other but today’s grave situation is an unprecedented one. He recognized that Middle Way Approach and mutual understanding would help dispel the misunderstandings, mistrust and misleading things between the two sides.

Ms Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for Information and International Relations, in her welcome address, said the Tibet issue is related with the survival of a nationality and the preservation and promotion of its unique identities. The resolution of the Tibet issue is directly related to the interest of China.

Ms Li Jianglin, scholar on history, in her presentation, delineated the evolution of the nationality policy of the Chinese Communist Government. In the beginning the Chinese Communist accepted and supported the right of people to self-determination. They had the right to choose to join the Federation of China. But gradually they have changed this policy, disregarded the right to self-determination and deleted these from official documents.

After having direct and open discussions and exchanges, the participants came to the following consensus:

- to support the efforts of the Central Tibetan Administration for dialogue with the Chinese Government; the participants gave high appreciation to the ongoing contacts between the Chinese and Tibetan people and considered it important for their aspirations;

- to make efforts that Sino-Tibetan people-to-people dialogue should not be limited to the political sphere, but also include areas of religion, culture and arts;

- to acknowledge that the issue of Tibet is not just the problem of Tibetans, but it has also relevance to the future of both the Chinese and Tibetan people;

- to express grave concerns about the serious human rights violations in Tibet and the deteriorating legal system, democratic development and human rights situation in China;

- to unanimously express recognition and support for the policy of the Middle Way Approach;

- to acknowledge the conference “Finding Common Ground” very meaningful and express that such meetings should be convened annually. It was agreed to form a working group of Tibetans and Chinese for that.

 

Hamburg, 28 August 2014

This document has been translated into English from the Chinese original. In case of any discrepancies, the Chinese original is the final and authoritative document.

Original Chinese Version: http://is.gd/DyyKOi