CBC News - Canada - Harper hosts the Dalai Lama despite stern warning from China 11/10/09 2:49 PM

Harper hosts the Dalai Lama despite stern

warning from China
Last Updated: Monday, October 29, 2007 | 7:01 PM ET
CBC News

The Dalai Lama weighed in Monday on Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan as government officials
welcomed the Tibetan spiritual leader on Parliament Hill during a visit that included an
unprecedented meeting with the prime minister in his office.

The Dalai Lama participated in a series of formal events in and around the Hill, including a 40-minute
meeting with Tory Leader Stephen Harper that has irritated the Chinese government, on Day 2 of his visit to
Canada.

The Dalai Lama said he believes "non-violence is the best way [to] solve problems," when asked earlier in
the day about Canada's role in Afghanistan during a stopover at the office of MP Jason Kenney, secretary of
state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity.

"Using violence, counter-violence, sometimes it creates more [complications]," he said.

The Dalai Lama said he would express reservations about the mission to Harper if the subject came up
during their meeting, but it didn't, according to Kenney.

The meeting was met with a stern warning from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa.

"Stop interfering with China's internal affairs, and take concrete steps to safeguard Canada-China relations,"
Sun Lushan, an embassy spokesperson, said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

The Dalai Lama said he didn't attach any significance to meeting Harper on Parliament Hill. He also said
he's no expert on diplomatic formalities.

"I don't care. The important [thing] is meeting [the] person," he said. "That I consider is the most
important. So whether meeting prime minister in [his] office or private house doesn't matter so long as
meeting with person face to face."

When former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin met the Dalai Lama
three years ago, for example, the encounter took place on what was
described as politically neutral territory — the home of the Roman
Catholic archbishop of Ottawa.

Tenzin Gyatso, 72, who is the 14th Dalai Lama, arrived in Canada on
Sunday and addressed a crowd of 8,000 at the Ottawa Civic Centre.

His message at the sold-out venue was one of compassion.

"We all want happiness, happy life, successful life."

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CBC News - Canada - Harper hosts the Dalai Lama despite stern warning from China 11/10/09 2:49 PM

But he also took time to express "reservations" about some American

policies, including the war in Iraq. The Dalai Lama met with U.S.
President George W. Bush in Washington last week.

Bush met with him privately in the White House. The monk also
received Congress's highest civilian honour, the Congressional Gold Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the
Medal. Dalai Lama exchange Kata scarves
before their meeting on Parliament Hill
on Monday.
'Important world figure' (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

The U.S. president and Harper join a growing group of Western leaders who have chosen to greet the Dalai
Lama in official venues despite criticism from China.

China says the Dalai Lama is a separatist political leader and considers it interference in China's domestic
affairs whenever a world leader is seen to be offering support.

But Kenney said he is more concerned about what Canadians think than the Chinese.

"As public opinion polls have indicated, the vast majority of Canadians
believe the prime minister should meet with the Dalai Lama. He is an
important world figure, a spiritual leader," Kenney said.

Some experts have warned, however, that the government should tread
carefully during this visit because China is an emerging economic
powerhouse and an increasingly important trading partner for Canada.

"Canada-China relations is somehow cool, if not the lowest point since

the 1970s," said Wenran Jiang, acting director of the University of
Alberta's China Institute.

He said if the goal is to help Tibetans, Canada should have a more

balanced approach when dealing with China — using moral statements
rather than "political theatre" meant to grab votes.

China invaded Tibet shortly after the 1949 Chinese Revolution. The
Dalai Lama has lived in exiled since staging a failed uprising against The Dalai Lama offers a kata scarf as he
Chinese rule in 1959. is greeted at the Ottawa International
Airport on Sunday. The kata offering is a
The Dalai Lama, who also met with Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, is traditional Tibetan greeting symbolizing
purity of intention.
scheduled to continue his Ottawa visit Tuesday and will be in Toronto (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
where he will hold a public talk Wednesday night on "The Art of
Happiness" at Rogers Centre.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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