The Dalai Lama has returned to Dharamsala after attending the prayer breakfast with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.
The Dalai Lama has returned to Dharamsala after attending the prayer breakfast with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.
Obama and the Dalai Lama exchanged greetings on February 5 but did not meet directly at a religious event in Washington closely watched by Beijing, which has warned against any meetings with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
Both figures were at an annual prayer breakfast in Washington where President Obama spoke about the importance of religious freedom.
Spokesperson of Tibetan government in-exile, Sonam Norbu Dagpo, had said Obama addressed the Dalai Lama as his friend. Dagpo had also said that China saw Tibetans as separatists but actually Tibetans were working to resolve the issue through a mid-way approach.
On Saturday, deputy speaker of Tibetan parliament in-exile, Khenpo Sonam, and home minister in-exile, Dolma Gyari, including Tibetan and few foreigner supporters gathered at Kangra airport to welcome their spiritual leader.
“I am very happy to be here to welcome him after his return from America, where he attended prayer breakfast with President Obama, which is a great opportunity for them to show their friendship and to show the support of the American people to the Tibet course,” said a French follower of the Dalai Lama, Valerie Fesselet.
The exchange may still rile China, which bristles at politicians meeting with the Dalai Lama. After the breakfast event was announced, Beijing said it opposed any country meeting with him under any circumstances.
Obama, who the White House has said has a "great relationship" with the Dalai Lama, has previously met with the spiritual leader three times, most recently in February 2014.
After the visit to US, the Dalai Lama visited Denmark and Norway for public talks, functions and meetings.
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