Jan 2002: In January 2002, the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lamamet outside of China with Chinese officials responsible for Tibet policy. Thiswas the first face-to-face meeting since August 1993.
Mar 2002: In his official statement on 10 March 2002, His Holiness theDalai Lama said, "I remain committed to the process of dialogue. As soon asthere is a positive signal from Beijing, my designated representatives standready to meet with officials of the Chinese government anywhere, anytime."
Sep 2002: On the occasion of the 42nd Anniversary of the TibetanDemocracy Day on 2 September 2002, the Kashag of the TibetanAdministration-in-exile, in a statement, urged all the Tibetans to extend theirsupport towards the realization of a united existence of the three provinceswith genuine autonomy and proper democratic system through a negotiatedsettlement with leadership of Beijing on the basis of His Holiness the DalaiLama's Five Point Peace Plan and Strasbourg Proposal.
Sep 2002: The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a pressrelease in Dharamshala on 9 September 2002 informing about the visit of aTibetan delegation to Beijing and Lhasa. The press statement said, "HisHoliness the Dalai Lama is very pleased that the team is able to make such avisit."
Sep 2002: A four-member Tibetan delegation headed by Special Envoy of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama, Lodi G. Gyari, left for China on 9 September 2002. TheSpecial Envoy was accompanied by Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and two seniorassistants, Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering. The visit was hosted by theUnited Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and cameafter a decade long deadlock in the relation between Beijing and Dharamshala.The Tibetan delegation visited Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and the Tibetancapital Lhasa and areas of Shigatse and Nyingtri, and met officials in Beijing,Lhasa as well as in other areas. In Beijing, the Tibetan delegation met WangZhaoguo, Vice-Chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)and head of the CPC's United Front Work Department; Li De Zhu, Minister forNationalities Affairs and Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department; andNgapo Ngawang Jigme, Vice-Chair of the CPPCC. The purpose of the visit wastwo-fold: One, to re-establish direct contact with the leadership in Beijing andto create a conducive atmosphere enabling direct face-to-face meetings on aregular basis in future; Two, to explain His Holiness the Dalai Lama's MiddleWay Approach towards resolving the issue of Tibet.
Sep 2002: While welcoming Beijing's positive gesture in receiving theTibetan delegation to China earlier this month, the democratically elected KalonTripa of the Tibetan Administration-in-exile, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, announcedthat the period till June 2003 would be devoted towards creating a conduciveatmosphere for building on the new contact. The Kalon Tripa, in an appeal dated30 September 2002, said, "I want to urge all Tibetans and friends of Tibetto refrain from public actions like rallies and demonstrations during PresidentJiang Zemin's visit to the United States and Mexico [in October 2002]."
Oct 2002: On 1 October 2002, US President George W. Bush signed the TibetPolicy Act (TPA) which established in law the position of the SpecialCoordinator for Tibetan Issues at the State Department with the centralobjective to "promote substantive dialogue between the government of thePeople's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives."
Mar 2003: In his official statement on 10 March 2003, His Holiness theDalai Lama expressed happiness over the re-establishment of direct contact withthe Chinese leadership with the visit of his envoys to Beijing last Septemberand said, "I had instructed my envoys to make every effort to pursue acourse of dialogue with the leadership in Beijing and to seize every opportunityto dispel existing misunderstandings and misconceptions in Beijing about ourviews and positions. This is the only sensible, intelligent and human way toresolve differences and establish understanding." His Holiness furthersaid, "It is my sincere hope that the Chinese leadership will find thecourage, vision and wisdom for new openings to solve the Tibetan issue throughdialogue."
Mar 2003: On the occasion of the 44th Anniversary of the TibetanPeople’s Uprising Day on 10 March 2003, the Kashag, in a statement, said,"The Tibet-China problem, which is nearly 55 years old, has never beenabout political issues only. Rather it is a problem which is related to theissue of nationality." Reassuring the Tibetan people, the Kashag furthersaid, "Over the past 44 years of our existence in exile, His Holiness theDalai Lama and the Tibetan Administration have never wavered from our commitmentto the goal of a united Tibet."
May 2003: The Tibetan delegation visited China for second time from 25May to 8 June 2003. The visit followed the changes in leadership of theCommunist Party of China (CPC) as well as of the Chinese Government and gave thedelegation the opportunity to engage extensively with the new Chinese leadersand officials responsible for Tibet and relationship with the leaders of theTibetan community-in-exile. In Beijing, the delegation met Liu Yandong,Vice-Chair of the CPPCC and head of the CPC's United Front Work Department; ZhuWeiqun, deputy head; Chang Rongjung, the Deputy Secretary-General; and othersenior officials.
Mar 2004: In his official statement on 10 March 2004, His Holiness theDalai Lama expressed willingness to meet with today’s leaders of thePeople’s Republic of China in the effort to secure a mutually acceptablesolution to the Tibetan issue. While welcoming the present process of dialoguebetween his envoys and their Chinese counterparts, His Holiness said, "Iconsider it of highest importance to maintain the momentum and to intensify anddeepen this process through regular face-to-face meetings and substantivediscussions."
Sep 2004: The Tibetan delegation made the third visit to China andTibetan areas from 12 to 29 September 2004. The delegation met Liu Yandong,Vice-Chair of the CPPCC and head of the CPC's United Front Work Department;Vice-Minister Zhu Weiqun, the deputy head; Chang Rongjun, Secretary-General; andother officials in Beijing. Both sides acknowledged the need for moresubstantive discussions in order to narrow down the gaps and reach a commonground.
Mar 2005: In his official statement on 10 March 2005, His Holiness theDalai Lama said, "I once again want to reassure the Chinese authoritiesthat as long as I am responsible for the affairs of Tibet we remain fullycommitted to the Middle Way Approach of not seeking independence for Tibet andare willing to remain within the People’s Republic of China." HisHoliness expressed optimism over the gradual improvement of interactions betweenhis envoys and their Chinese counterparts, and said, "Now that our electedpolitical leadership is shouldering more responsibility in Tibetan affairs, Ihave advised them to look into the issues raised by the Chinese side during ourthird round of talks and to take steps to address or clarify them asneeded."
Mar 2005: On the occasion of the 46th Anniversary of the TibetanPeople’s Uprising Day on 10 March 2005, the Kashag, in a statement, said,"In essence, the entirety of the Tibetan population having legitimaterights within the constitutional framework of the People's Republic of China toenjoy genuine national regional autonomy is the legitimate requirement of theTibetan people. Therefore, the need of such an autonomy, equally and uniformlypractised amidst all the Tibetan people, has already been emphasised; not justonce but many times. We would like to once again state that this basic principlecan not be changed at all."
Jun 2005: The fourth round of meetings between the Tibetan and Chinesedelegations took place on 30 June and 1 July 2005 at the Embassy of thePeople’s Republic of China in Berne, Switzerland. Special Envoy Lodi G. Gyariand Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, accompanied by three senior assistants, Sonam N.Dagpo, Ngapa Tsegyam, and Bhuchung K. Tsering, met Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun ofthe CPC's United Front Work Department and his six-member delegation. ViceMinister Zhu declared that their direct contact with the Tibetan delegation hasnow become stable and an "established practice." He also conveyed tothe Tibetan delegation that the Central leadership of the Chinese CommunistParty attached great importance to the contact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.The Tibetan side put forward some concrete proposals that will help build trustand confidence and move the ongoing process to a new level of engagement aimedat bringing about substantive negotiations to achieve a mutually acceptablesolution to the Tibetan issue.
Sep 2005: The Kashag of the Tibetan Administration-in-exile issued asecond appeal on 3 September 2005, which said, "The President of thePeople's Republic of China, Hu Jintao, will soon pay an official visit to theAmericas sometime in September this year. We would like to take this opportunityto make an urgent appeal to all the Tibetans and Tibet Support Groups to refrainfrom any activities, including staging of protest demonstrations, which willcause him embarrassment."
Feb 2006: The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a pressstatement in Dharamshala on 15 February 2006 informing about the arrival of theTibetan delegation in China for the fifth round of talks with their Chinesecounterparts. The press statement further said, "His Holiness is pleasedthat the present round of talks, which began in 2002, is the longest process ofcontinued interaction that we have had with the leadership in Beijing. For thelast four meetings, the envoys have had very candid and serious discussion withtheir counterparts in the Chinese leadership."
Feb 2006: Special Envoy Lodi G. Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen,accompanied by two members of the Task Force, Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K.Tsering, visited China from 15 to 23 February 2006. The Tibetan delegation had aday-long meeting with the Executive Vice Minister of the CPC's United Front WorkDepartment, Zhu Weiqun, on 22 February 2006 in Guilin City during which theydealt with substantive issues. This fifth round of discussion made it clear thatthere is a major difference even in the approach in addressing the issue.However, both sides remain committed to the dialogue process with their firmbelief that the obstacles can be overcome through more discussions andengagements.
Mar 2006: In his official statement on 10 March 2006, His Holiness theDalai Lama said, "The Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration has madea number of appeals to Tibetans and our international supporters to work towardthe creation of a conducive environment for negotiations. Today, I would like toemphasise that we leave no stone unturned to help the present process ofdialogue for the resolution of the Sino-Tibetan problem. I urge all Tibetans totake note of this on the basis of the Kashag's appeal. I make the same requestto Tibet supporters and those sympathetic to the Tibetan people."
Apr 2006: The Kashag of the Tibetan Administration-in-exile issued thethird appeal on 3 April 2006, which said, "President Hu Jintao will soonpay an official visit to America this month and the Kashag would like to onceagain strongly appeal with utmost importance and emphasis to all the Tibetansand Tibet Support Groups to refrain from any activities, including staging ofprotest demonstrations causing embarrassment to him. This appeal is not only tocreate a conducive atmosphere for negotiations but also not to causeembarrassment and difficulty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama whose visitcoincides with President Hu Jintao's visit to America. If protests are held,this will give the impression that no Tibetan or Tibet Support Group is takingnotice of and carrying out His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s instructions issuedin the recent 10th March statement."
Nov 2006: Briefing on the current status of discussions between HisHoliness the Dalai Lama and the Government of the People’s Republic of Chinaat the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., on 14 November 2006, LodiGyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said:
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"Some detractors in the Chinese Government seem to believe that theaspirations of the Tibetan people will fizzle out once the Dalai Lama passesaway. This is a most dangerous and myopic approach. Certainly, the absence ofthe Dalai Lama would be devastating for the Tibetan people. But more importantlyhis absence would mean that China would be left to handle the problem withoutthe presence of a leader who enjoys the loyalty of the entire community and whoremains firmly committed to non-violence. It is certain that the Tibetanposition would become more intractable in his absence, and that having had theirbeloved leader pass away in exile would create deep and irreparable wounds inthe hearts of the Tibetan people." He further added, "In the absenceof the Dalai Lama, there is no way that the entire population would be able tocontain their resentment and anger. And it only takes a few desperateindividuals or groups to create major instability. This is not a threat, but astatement of fact." "The Dalai Lama's world view, his special bondwith the Tibetan people and the respect he enjoys in the international communityall make the person of the Dalai Lama key both to achieving a negotiatedsolution to the Tibetan issue and to peacefully implementing any agreement thatis reached. This is why we have consistently conveyed to our Chinesecounterparts that far from being the problem, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is thesolution," Special Envoy concluded.
Jun 2007: Special Envoy Lodi G. Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen,accompanied by two members of the Task Force, Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K.Tsering, visited China from June 29 to July 5, 2007 for the sixth round ofdiscussions with the Chinese leadership. During this trip three sessions ofdiscussion were held over a day and a half in Shanghai and Nanjing. TheExecutive Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, Zhu Weiqun,and the Vice Minister, Sithar (who has been recently promoted to this post), ledthe discussions from the Chinese side. The Tibetan delegation conveyed theirserious concerns in the strongest possible manner on the overall Tibetan issueand made some concrete proposals for implementation if the dialogue process isto go forward.
