Dalai Lama talks to China for pilgrimage

Dharamsala: The Dalai Lama indicated on Thursday that he was in informal talks with China to make a historic pilgrimage to Tibet after more than half a century in exile.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had “made clear” his desire to undertake the pilgrimage to a sacred mountain in his homeland to contacts in China, including retired Communist Party officials.

“It’s not finalised, not yet, but the idea is there,” he said.

“Not formally or seriously, but informally... I express, this is my desire, and some of my friends, they are also showing their genuine interest or concern,” he added.

“Recently, some Chinese officials, for example the deputy party secretary in the autonomous region of Tibet, he also mentioned the possibility of my visit as a pilgrimage to that sacred place,” he said.

The Dalai Lama has long expressed a desire to visit the Wutai Shan mountain, considered sacred by Tibetans. His comments come amid speculation of an easing of tensions with China, which in the past has decried the spiritual leader as a “splittist” and accused him of seeking secession.

Last month, an anonymous blog post appeared briefly on a Chinese-run website describing the Dalai Lama’s return in positive terms, before it was taken down. It was seen by some experts as an indication that China’s tone may be softening a view shared by the Dalai Lama. He also welcomed President Jinping’s comments on Buddhism.