14. President Bush Urged to Ask China to Begin Substantive Discussions on Tibet

ICT - Wednesday, October 12, 2005

The Washington, D.C.-based Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) has recommended that President George Bush and Congress should urge the Chinese government to meet the Dalai Lama and to move the current contact with his envoys to substantive discussions. In its annual report for 2005, released on October 11, 2005, CECC said, "The future of Tibetans and their religion, language, and culture depends on fair and equitable decisions about future policies that can only be achieved through dialogue. The Dalai Lama is essential to this dialogue. To help the parties build on visits and dialogue held in 2003, 2004, and 2005, the President and the Congress should urge the Chinese government to move the current dialogue toward deeper, substantive discussions with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, and encourage direct contact between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership." Congress created the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) in 2000 to monitor China's compliance with international human rights standards, to encourage the development of the rule of law in the PRC, and to establish and maintain a list of victims of human rights abuses in China. The Commission comprises nine Senators, nine members of the House of Representatives and five senior Administration officials appointed by the President. "This is an honest report that takes a comprehensive look at human rights and rule of law in China," said Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), the Commission's Chairman. "China's leaders will not achieve their long-term goal of social stability and continued economic development without building a future that includes human rights for all Chinese citizens. China's development will impact all of Asia, and the world. Respect for human rights must be part of that future," Hagel said. "This report reflects the Commission's work throughout the year in deepening its understanding of the current state of human rights and the rule of law in China," said CECC Co-Chairman Representative James A. Leach (R-IA). "The report describes the areas in which more remains to be done to give the Chinese people the rights that the Chinese Constitution and laws guarantee to them," Leach said. The full report can he viewed at www.cecc.gov