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Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is the head monk of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th Dalai Lama, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

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All Content on this topic

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari (R) and Kelsang Gyaltsen are expected to return to Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan-government in exile, in early February

Dalai Lama's Envoys in China

Envoys of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, have arrived in China to resume their dialogue with the Chinese leadership. The talks between envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen and Chinese officials will be the first in over 15 months.
January 26, 2010
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle

Dealing with China

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle hasn't shied away from tough topics during his China trip.
January 15, 2010
Thousands of devotees listened to the Dalai Lama in Tawang on Monday

Dalai Lama Visit Puts a Strain on Sino-Indian Relations

The Dalai Lama's visit to India's far north-eastern Arunachal Pradesh is drawing a lot of flak from Beijing. The Indian government, too, seems to be undecided on how strongly it could or should assert its own position.
November 9, 2009
The Dalai Lama blesses typhoon survivors in southern Taiwan

The Dalai Lama on a Controversial Visit to Taiwan

The Dalai Lama is currently visiting Taiwan offering comfort and guidance to victims of the devastating Typhoon Morakot that hit the island earlier this month. He praised Taiwanese democracy and said the island should preserve it. The visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader is highly controversial as it might harm the improving ties between China and Taiwan. The Dalai Lama has visited Taiwan twice, also meeting the then presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shuibian. But this time, incumbent Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will try to avoid the Dalai Lama as he struggles to stay impartial.
August 31, 2009
The premier of the state of Hesse, Roland Koch with the Dalai Lama in Neu-Isenburg, Frankfurt

The Dalai Lama Visits Frankfurt

The Dalai Lama has started his visit to the German city of Frankfurt. He has been invited by Buddhist Organisations based in Germany. During his stay, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader will address a crowd of nearly 40,000 people at a stadium and will hold a series of lectures on Buddhism. He will also participate in seminars on topics such as peace, the environment, and the economy.
July 30, 2009
The Dalai Lama waves.

Dalai Lama in Germany

The Dalai Lama has begun four days of lectures and discussion on Buddhism in Frankfurt.
July 30, 2009
Roland Koch and the Dalai Lama at their press conference

Dalai Lama's visit

The state premier of Hesse received the Dalai Lama at the start of his visit to Germany.
July 29, 2009
Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama honored

The Dalai Lama is made an honorary citizen of Warsaw ahead of his visit to Germany.
July 29, 2009
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

EU-China summit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew home from Prague after he and the EU failed to find common ground.
May 21, 2009
South African President Jacob Zuma waves to supporters after his swearing in ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Zuma-South Africa-Cabinet

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa announces a major reshuffle of key government portfolios.
May 10, 2009
The Dalai Lama

Racism talks abandoned

Talks on how to use soccer to fight racism were called off after the Dalai Lama was denied a visa.
March 26, 2009

South Africa Denies Dalai Lama Visa

South Africa’s government has denied the Tibetan spiritual leader - the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the country. Pretoria’s decision is reported to have been a reaction to pressure from China.
March 23, 2009
In his current incarnation, the Dalai Lama lives in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala

Debate About the Dalai Lama’s Successor Heats up Again

A top Chinese official has repeated that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation must be approved by Beijing.
March 13, 2009
Graphic of pen with word opinion

Tibet's Future

DW's Matthias von Hein says Tibet's hope lies in China's democratization.
March 10, 2009
March 1959: The Dalai Lama flees Tibet

Memories of 1959 -- Fleeing from Tibet With the Dalai Lama

In March 1959, the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet. He was not alone. An estimated 100,000 Tibetans followed him into exile in India. One of them was Phukang Rinpoche. The 66-year-old now lives in Germany, near Bonn. He was studying at the Ganden Monastery near Lhasa when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army invaded in 1950 -- he was nine years old.
March 9, 2009
A masked dancer and a monk looks on

Party Cancelled

The Tibetan traditional New Year will not be celebrated by Tibetans in exile in Germany.
February 25, 2009
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, right, and China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao talk during a media conference at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Friday Jan. 30, 2009

China-EU Relations

China and the EU have vowed to work together to combat the global financial crisis.
January 30, 2009
Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Germany's Tough Year

The financial crisis and the Afghanistan mission made governing in Germany difficult in 2008.
December 28, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is welcomed by the Dalai Lama in Gdansk, Poland

Ties to China

Beijing has warned that Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama could negatively impact trade.
December 8, 2008
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama

Lama Meets Sarkozy

The Dalai Lama meets with French President Sarkozy in Poland Saturday, much to China's chagrin.
December 6, 2008
The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Addresses EU Parliament

The Dalai Lama has once again rejected claims that he is seeking Tibet’s independence from China. He was speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels. The Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit to Belgium and his upcoming meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland has sparked outrage in China.
December 4, 2008
The Dalai Lama greets supporters as he leaves a Paris hotel

China Postpones Summit with EU over Dalai Lama

China has decided not to send representatives to Europe next month to protest scheduled meetings between EU heads of state meeting and the Tibetan spiritual leader. Things are tense between Beijing and Brussels.
November 26, 2008
The Tibetan delegates in Dharamsala want the Dalai Lama to come back out of the shadows

Tibetan Delegates Will Follow Dalai Lama

Over 500 Tibetan exiles have ended their consultations in the north Indian town of Dharamsala. They met to discuss their future strategy after the failure of negotiations with the Chinese government, splitting up into 15 working groups. Although the conclusions are only formally being presented to the government-in-exile on Saturday, the general inclination is clear.
November 21, 2008
The flags of the 45 nations attending the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing

Asia, Europe for Tighter Controls

World leaders call for swift reform to the financial system as Merkel calls for more transparency.
October 24, 2008
German and Chinese flags hanging next to each other

Strengthened Ties

China sees a growing friendship with Germany while Merkel vows closer cooperation.
October 24, 2008
Angela Merkel holding a globe in her hand

Three Years Straight

Germany's Chancellor Merkel is still the most powerful woman in the world, says Forbes magazine.
August 28, 2008

Chinese Police Break Up Pro-Tibet Action at Olympics

Chinese police have broken up a demonstration by pro-Tibetan activists in Beijing. Security forces dragged off five protestors seconds after they unfurled a banner near the main Olympics venue.
August 13, 2008
The Dalai Lama, during a visit to Germany in May, 2008

Dalai Lama Calls for Global Effort on China Democracy

Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said during a visit to France that the international community had a responsibility "to bring China into the mainstream of world democracy."
August 13, 2008
Kelsang Gyaltsen, the Dalai Lama's representative in Europe

Dalai Lama’s Negotiators Impatient With China

The Dalai Lama’s negotiators have expressed their frustration about the lack of progress in talks which took place with the Chinese government in early July. They are particularly disappointed that China refused to issue a joint declaration, which would have committed both sides to the dialogue process.
July 15, 2008
Sarkozy embraces Chinese President Hu Jintao

France Rejects Chinese Pressure Over Dalai Lama

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday, July 10, reacted defiantly to Chinese threats of reprisals if he met with the Dalai Lama.
July 10, 2008
Chinese and German flags

Breaking the Ice

Relations between China and Germany have normalized, China's foreign minister said Friday.
June 13, 2008
German and Chinese flags

Top German Official to Visit China's Earthquake Zone

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will tour the earthquake-hit Sichuan province on a trip to China that begins Friday, June 13. He will also meet Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to discuss trade issues.
June 12, 2008
Stamp showing the Dalai Lama

Unseen Face

A rare Austrian stamp featuring the Dalai Lama is to be sold at at an auction in Duesseldorf.
June 11, 2008

Dalai Lama calls for non-violence

The Dalai Lama has met with a member of the German government and addressed a massive solidarity rally in Berlin, calling for dialogue as a means to end violence
May 19, 2008
Chinese demonstrator with bloodstained banner of Olympic logo saying "This is not a game"

Media Mess

A 50-year-old German political foundation is mired in a media flap involving Tibetan exile groups
May 19, 2008
The Dalai Lama ended his five-day trip to Germany on Monday -- he is due to visit Britain

Dalai Lama Ends Germany Visit

The envoys of the Dalai Lama will soon hold a seventh round of formal talks with Chinese officials, according to a statement by Lodi Gyari, one of the envoys who met Chinese officials earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama held talks with German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul in Berlin on the last day of his tour to Germany. Wieczorek Zeul described the meeting as “fruitful”.
May 19, 2008
The Dalai Lama and Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul shake hands

Controversial Meeting

Despite criticism, Germany's development minister met the Dalai Lama in Berlin on Monday.
May 19, 2008
Dalai Lama in Nuremberg

Dalai Lama Speaks Out in Germany Amid Controversy

The Dalai Lama spoke out in Germany for religious tolerance amid a simmering political controversy.
May 18, 2008
Dalai Lama

Political Objections

Amid protests from China, a German minister has defended her planned meeting with the Dalai Lama.
May 17, 2008
The Dalai Lama at a press conference in Bochum on May 16

Dalai Lama Kicks Off Germany Visit

The Dalai Lama insists that he is not seeking independence for Tibet. Currently on a five-day visit to Germany, the Tibetan spiritual leader told a meeting in Bochum that he was in favour of greater autonomy only. He also underlined his desire for reconciliation with China.
May 16, 2008
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures during a press meeting in Dharamsala, India, in March

Dalai Lama in Germany

The Dalai Lama calls for more cultural autonomy in his native Tibet during his tour of Germany.
May 15, 2008
Dalai Lama and Hesse Premier Roland Koch

Dalai Lama Begins Germany Tour

The Dalai Lama arrived in Germany on Thursday, May 15, at the start of a five-day visit that includes a meeting with a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet in Berlin.
May 15, 2008

Dalai Lama visits Germany

The Dalai Lama starts a five-day tour of Germany on Thursday, but he will not meet Chancellor Merkel.
May 14, 2008
The Dalai Lama

Official Welcome

Contrary to its previous stance, a cabinet minister will meet the Dalai Lama during his visit.
May 14, 2008
Dalai Lama standing in front of a Tibetan flag

Cold Shoulder

The German president and foreign minister are under fire for not planning to meet the Dalai Lama.
May 11, 2008

Dalai Lama Upbeat on China Talks Ahead of Visit to Germany

Talks between representatives of the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama are being conducted in a cordial atmosphere, a German news magazine reported, following an interview with the Tibetan religious leader.
May 10, 2008
The Dalai Lama

German Foreign Minister Criticized For Not Meeting Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama's European representative criticized the decision by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday, May 8, not to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader when he visits Germany next week.
May 8, 2008
Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile is optimistic about the talks

China, Dalai Lama Envoys Agree to Meet Again

Envoys of the Dalai Lama have left China after a day of talks with Chinese officials in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. The talks, the first in ten months between the two sides, ended in an agreement to meet again. The Tibetan side has expressed optimism about the continuation of the dialogue in the future.
May 5, 2008
German and Chinese flags

Talks with Beijing

In China, Germany's interior minister said openness is the best way to keep unrest from escalating.
April 29, 2008
The Chinese state media has said the government is prepared to talk with the Dalai Lama's envoys about anything except sovereignty

China to Negotiate with Dalai Lama

China’s state news agency has announced that government officials are planning to hold talks with the representatives of the Dalai Lama. They reportedly are willing to discuss everything with the Dalai Lama’s envoys except sovereignty. However, the Dalai Lama’s representative to the EU, Kelsang Gyaltsen, told DW he didn’t know “when or where the talks would take place or what would be discussed”.
April 25, 2008