Dalai Lama’s visit to White House kept low-key in deference to China

PRESIDENT Barack Obama welcomed the Dalai Lama for White House talks yesterday, risking fallout in China over the meeting, as well as his statement in support of the preservation of Tibet’s identity and human rights.

“The president commended the Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle Way’ approach, his commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government,” the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said after the private meeting which lasted over an hour.

Speaking to reporters on the White House driveway, the Dalai Lama said he was “very happy” with the session. The exiled Tibetan leader said he spoke to Obama about the promotion of human value, religious harmony, a greater leadership role for women around the world and the concerns of the Tibetan people. He said Obama was “very much supportive”.