Foreign and Military Affairs

Canada parliament speaker meets Tibetan delegation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-22 10:43

OTTAWA - Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Peter Milliken said Monday that personal contact helps increase mutual understanding and friendship between Canada and China.

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Milliken made the remark during his meeting in the parliament with Qiangba Puncog, head of a delegation of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

Qiangba Puncog said as a NPC deputy elected by the people in the Tibet autonomous region, he is willing to promote China-Canada relations, especially in legislative areas together with his Canadian counterparts.

Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Tibet autonomous region, called on all Canadians to get a clear understanding of the clique led by the Dalai Lama. He said the Dalai Lama is not a pure religious believer, but a political leader in exile plotting to split China, and urged Canadians to condemn his activities.

Morris Rosenberg, Canada's deputy minister of foreign affairs, also met with the delegation.

Rosenberg said Canada is aware the Dalai Lama issue is a sensitive one, but is willing to boost exchanges on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

The Tibetan delegation departed here late on Monday for Calgary and Vancouver in southwestern Canada before concluding its visit to Canada.