For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 10, 2003

Statement by the Press Secretary

His Holiness, the XIV Dalai Lama, met at the White House this morning with the President. This was their second meeting to discuss Tibet. The President reiterated the strong commitment of the United States to the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic identity and the protection of the human rights of all Tibetans. The President also declared his strong support for the Dalai Lama's commitment to the dialogue with China. The President said he would seek ways to encourage China to continue the dialogue on a substantive basis and expressed his hope that the Chinese government would respond favorably. The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of strong and constructive U.S.-China relations.

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