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Peace In Action. H.H. the Dalai Lama’s July 1996 UK Visit

Description:.

An edited highlights programme of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vist to Britain in July 1996, including excerpts from press conferences, public talks, teachings, meeting people and travelling around. A wondeful remembrance of the week His Holioness spent here in Summer 1996.

A co-production between The Meridian Trust and Office of Tibet, London

Date: July 1996      United Kingdom

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2012 Templeton Prize

China cancels UK visit over David Cameron's meeting with Dalai Lama

China called off a senior leader's visit to Britain after learning that David Cameron planned to meet the Dalai Lama, according to diplomatic sources.

Beijing summoned the British ambassador following the prime minister's meeting in London this month and warned publicly that the event had damaged relations with the UK .

But the cancellation of Wu Bangguo's visit had previously escaped notice because it had not been announced.

Wu, who is the country's chief legislator and serves on its top political decision-making body, has just concluded a tour of Europe that was due to include the short trip to Britain.

Chinese officials informed their British counterparts that the visit was cancelled after learning of Cameron's meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, sources said.

A spokesman at the British embassy in Beijing did not comment on the timing or cause of the cancellation, but confirmed: "There was a proposed visit by Wu Bangguo which has not happened.

"We very much regret that Chairman Wu was not able to travel to the UK; his visit would have been a good opportunity to continue deepening UK-China relations. We would welcome future visitors from the National People's Congress to strengthen the UK-China dialogue."

Wu chairs the standing committee of the NPC, the country's legislature.

The Chinese foreign ministry had not responded to queries at time of writing, but a spokesman warned after Cameron's meeting that the British government had "[hurt] the feelings of the Chinese people", meddled in China's affairs and harmed Chinese-British relations.

Hong Lei added: "We are strongly discontented and firmly opposed to it.

"We call on the British side to earnestly respond to China's solemn demand, stop conniving at and supporting separatist attempts to achieve Tibetan independence, take practical measures to eliminate the terrible impact and take actions to preserve Chinese-British relations."

A commentary published by the state news agency Xinhua described it as "a dark moment for China-Britain relations".

China alleges that the Dalai Lama wants to split the country, while he says that he seeks only meaningful autonomy for Tibet.

Beijing pays close attention to his travels and lobbies foreign leaders not to meet him, often warning that it will damage bilateral relations. It is particularly alert to arrangements suggesting the Dalai Lama is an official visitor akin to a visiting statesman and to awards and honours he is granted.

Cameron and Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, met him at St Paul's Cathedral – where the Dalai Lama was receiving the £1.1m Templeton prize – rather than on government premises.

Beijing's highest-level protest came in 2008 when it called off a major EU summit because Nicolas Sarkozy, then French president, was due to meet the Tibetan.

More recently, it is understood to have cancelled bilateral visits after the Estonian president and other politicians met the Dalai Lama last summer. A few months later there was fury from civil rights campaigners when the spiritual leader failed to obtain a visa to South Africa, where he hoped to celebrate his friend Desmond Tutu's birthday. South African officials denied they were bowing to pressure from China, its biggest trading partner .

Diplomats say the Czech Republic has had particularly frosty relations with China over its dealings with the Tibetan spiritual leader, who has visited the country nine times and was a friend of the late Vaclav Havel, its former president.

"They have been made an example of; it is easier to punish smaller countries," said one.

In 2010, researchers at the University of Göttingen in Germany said they had found meetings with the Dalai Lama damaged exports to China. Their study of 159 countries over 17 years suggested exports slipped by an average 8.1% in the two years after a country's officials met the Tibetan spiritual leader, but recovered after that.

  • David Cameron
  • Asia Pacific

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The Chant Master leading a mandala offering during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings at the Main Tibetan Temple courtyard in Dharamsala, HP, India on February 24, 2024.

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Latest News

Discourse on the Day of Offerings

Discourse on the Day of Offerings

February 24, 2024

Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - The Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple, and the courtyard before it were packed this morning with an estimated 8000 people, Tibetans, people from the Himalayan region, and others from further afield. They had all gathered to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama give his customary discourse on the ‘Day of Offerings’.

Congratulating Alexander Stubb President-Elect of Finland

Congratulating Alexander Stubb President-Elect of Finland

February 13, 2024

Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Alexander Stubb to congratulate him on having been elected the next President of Finland. “It has been an honour for me to have been able to visit your beautiful country several times over the years,” he wrote. “I deeply appreciate that on those occasions Finnish people from all walks of life have shown keen interest in what I had to say.”

Congratulating Lai Ching-te, President-Elect, Taiwan

Congratulating Lai Ching-te, President-Elect, Taiwan

January 14, 2024

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India - Following yesterday’s presidential elections in Taiwan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Mr. Lai Ching-te, the President-Elect, to offer his warm congratulations. “Indeed,” he wrote, “observing the exercise of democracy, as has just taken place in Taiwan, is a source of encouragement for all of us who aspire to live in freedom and dignity.”

Congratulating the Prime Minister-Elect of Bhutan

Congratulating the Prime Minister-Elect of Bhutan

January 12, 2024

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India - Following the recent general election in Bhutan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister-Elect, to offer him a warm Tashi Delek. “As Tibetans,” he wrote, “we share a historic relationship with the Bhutanese people, I have followed your country’s commendable development in democratic governance, under the farsighted leadership of the Druk Gyalpo.”

Jataka Tales - 2024

Jataka Tales - 2024

Losar (Tibetan New Year) Greetings - 2024

Losar (Tibetan New Year) Greetings - 2024

February 10, 2024

Talking to Others as Just Another Human Being

Talking to Others as Just Another Human Being

February 2, 2024

Embracing Love and Rejecting Indifference

Embracing Love and Rejecting Indifference

January 25, 2024

My Hope and Dream

My Hope and Dream

January 15, 2024

  • In Pictures

2024 02 24 Dharamsala G10 Sr56230

Jataka Tale Teachings on the Day of Offerings

First Day of Fully Ordained Monk Ordination in Dharamsala

First Day of Fully Ordained Monk Ordination in Dharamsala

February 20, 2024

Novice Monk and Nun Ordination in Dharamsala

Novice Monk and Nun Ordination in Dharamsala

February 17, 2024

Long Life Prayer Offered by Namgyal Monastery

Long Life Prayer Offered by Namgyal Monastery

February 14, 2024

Pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple on the Final Day in Bodhgaya

Pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple on the Final Day in Bodhgaya

January 18, 2024

HHDL playfully posing for photos with members of the security team that helped during his four week visit to Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 28, 2018. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel #dalailama A post shared by Dalai Lama (@dalailama) on Jan 28, 2018 at 2:30am PST

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. BBC ON THIS DAY

    The Dalai Lama and other Tibetans have still not returned to what was once their country. It remains under the control of China. Stories From 20 Oct. 1967: Thousands join anti-war movement. 1983: Grenada's prime minister 'assassinated'. 2000: British activist freed from Burma. 1973: Dalai Lama makes first UK visit.

  2. List of overseas visits by the 14th Dalai Lama outside India

    Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama made his first foreign visit in exile to Japan and Thailand in 1967. In 1973, he made his first visit to Europe. He made his first visit to the North America in 1979. Following is a list of all of his overseas trips.

  3. Schedule

    Schedule. Below is the public schedule of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. All events are free and open to the public unless noted. For ticketed events, people are requested to contact the organizers directly or visit the listed websites for further information on tickets. For all teachings in Dharamsala, registration is required in order to attend.

  4. Dalai Lama to visit UK in June

    Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is to visit the UK later this year. He will give public talks in Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th ...

  5. Dalai Lama to visit UK in June

    Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is to make visits to cities in England and Scotland later this year.

  6. Visit to Magdalen College

    His Holiness the Dalai Lama with some of the 200 students that attended their interactive meeting at University of Oxford's Rhodes House in Oxford, UK on September 14, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming. His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing Fellows of the Dalai Lama Centre for Compassion at Magdalen Colleges Beit Room in Oxford, UK on September 14, 2015.

  7. Peace In Action. H.H. the Dalai Lama's July 1996 UK Visit

    An edited highlights programme of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's vist to Britain in July 1996, including excerpts from press conferences, public talks, teachings, meeting people and travelling around. A wondeful remembrance of the week His Holioness spent here in Summer 1996. A co-production between The Meridian Trust and Office of Tibet, London.

  8. Warm applause for Dalai Lama's Cambridge visit

    The Dalai Lama has visited Cambridge three times in the past 60 years

  9. Dalai Lama's visit to Scotland sparks controversy

    The Dalai Lama is in Scotland as part of a UK visit Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has arrived in Scotland amid controversy over his visit. He will embark on a two-day tour of three ...

  10. Dalai Lama begins visit to Londonderry

    The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is on a two-day visit to Northern Ireland. He has visited Londonderry as the patron of charity Children in Crossfire, as part of its 20th anniversary ...

  11. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives in the UK

    London, UK, 27 June 2015 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama flew from Dharamsala to Delhi yesterday afternoon. This morning before setting out for the United Kingdom, he gave an interview to Ms Jyoti Malhotra of India Today. Scattered cloud interrupted views of London as his flight came in to land.

  12. Glastonbury festival announces visit from Dalai Lama

    The Dalai Lama's visit to the UK will also take in Aldershot, which has a large Nepalese Buddhist community Glastonbury festival has confirmed that the Dalai Lama will make a special appearance at ...

  13. 'Extremist' sect threatens protests against Dalai Lama during UK visit

    The UK protests are being organised by the New Kadampa Tradition, which emerged in the 1990s and now has nearly 50 centres in the UK promoting Shugden practices. In preparation for his visit, the ...

  14. Uk: London: Dalai Lama'S Combined Spiritual and Political Visit

    (16 Jul 1996) English/NatThe Dalai Lama - who's visiting Britain - has called on China to open negotiations about the future of Tibet.An angry Beijing says ...

  15. Dalai Lama Arrives in Britain For 11-Day Visit

    London, UK, 20 May 2008 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama began an 11-day visit to Britain Tuesday, including talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown who faces a delicate balancing act of supporting Tibetan rights while not offending China. The Tibetan spiritual leader flew in from Germany, the first stop on a five-country tour, to meet Brown and the ...

  16. Dalai Lama

    Dalai Lama (UK: / ˈ d æ l aɪ ˈ l ɑː m ə /, US: / ˈ d ɑː l aɪ /; Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་, Wylie: Tā la'i bla ma [táːlɛː láma]) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and incumbent ...

  17. From The Beatles to Dalai Lama: 100 years of Caird Hall

    The Dalai Lama spoke at Caird Hall on his fifth visit to Scotland in 2012 Despite celebrating its centenary, very little of the actual building has changed. Mr Baxter said: "It's remarkable in ...

  18. China cancels UK visit over David Cameron's meeting with Dalai Lama

    Fri 25 May 2012 06.06 EDT. China called off a senior leader's visit to Britain after learning that David Cameron planned to meet the Dalai Lama, according to diplomatic sources. Beijing summoned ...

  19. DALAI LAMA'S VISIT (Hansard, 6 November 1973)

    DALAI LAMA'S VISIT (Hansard, 6 November 1973) Search Help. HANSARD 1803-2005 → 1970s → 1973 → November 1973 → 6 November 1973 → Lords Sitting DALAI LAMA'S VISIT. HL Deb 06 November 1973 vol 346 cc237-40 237. VISCOUNT LONG. My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. ... Noticed a typo? ...

  20. Dalai Lama's visit to Scotland sparks controversy

    The Dalai Lama is in Scotland as part of a UK visit Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has arrived in Scotland amid controversy over his visit. He will embark on a two-day tour of three ...

  21. Travels

    In 1967, His Holiness made his first visits abroad since coming into exile, visiting Japan and Thailand. In 1973, His Holiness made his first visit to the West, visiting 12 European countries in a record 75 days! His first visit to the Americas was to the United States and Canada in 1979. To glance at a list of His Holiness' past visits, please ...

  22. Visit to Leeds, England

    His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to members of the press in Manchester before his visit to Leeds, England, on June 15, 2012. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is welcomed by well-wishers on his arrival in Leeds, England, on June 15, 2012. Photo/Chloe Crewe-Read.

  23. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

    February 13, 2024. Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Alexander Stubb to congratulate him on having been elected the next President of Finland. "It has been an honour for me to have been able to visit your beautiful country several times over the years," he wrote. "I deeply appreciate ...