A delegation of five Tibetan Deputies to the National People's Congress of China, led by Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and a living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism, visited Canada from March 22 to 25. The delegation met with VIPs from Canadian Parliament, government and the local media during the visit. H.E. Mr. Lan Lijun , Chinese Ambassador to Canada and Mr. Yang Youming, the DCM of the Chinese Embassy, joined in the events in Ottawa.
In the afternoon of March 23, Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak and other delegation members met with the Honorable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada. Speaker Milliken expressed his warm welcome and said that the visit not only brings the latest information on the development and changes in Tibet, but also enhances the friendship between the Canadian Parliament and the National People's Congress of China.
Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak highly appreciated Speaker Milliken's contribution to China-Canada friendly relations. He said that this was the first delegation of Tibetan deputies from the National People's Congress of China visiting Canada, with an aim to present a true picture of Tibet to the Canadian people. Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak briefed the Speaker about the great economic, social and cultural developments achieved in Tibet, and explained the introduction of March 28 as the "Serfs Emancipation Day".
Speaker Milliken commended the achievements Tibet has made in the past five decades and said that the Canadian House of Commons hopes to improve exchanges with the National People's Congress of China and help strengthen relations between Canada and China.
Prior to the meeting with Speaker Milliken, the delegation visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and met with Assistant Deputy Minister Mr. Ken Sunquist. Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak answered the questions about the improvement of human rights and religious freedom in Tibet.
Mr. Sunquist emphasized that the Canadian Government always recognizes the Government of People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. Canada does not support any activity aimed at splitting China.
The delegation held hours of long talks with some Senators and MPs in the evening. The delegation talked about the great developments made by Tibetan people based on their personal experience, and answered questions concerning the preservation of the traditional Tibetan culture, protection of the environment, development of medical and sanitary service, freedom of religious practice, freedom of press and Chinese Central Government's position on the contact with Dalai Lama's private representatives.
Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak gave an interview in the morning to "the Ottawa Citizen". Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak pointed out that only people who live in Tibet and contribute to the development of Tibet can truly represent Tibetans, just like the delegation members, who have been elected by the Tibetan people as deputies to the National People's Congress in accordance with the legal procedure. The Dalai Lama represents the old feudal serfdom of theocracy prior to 1959, and by no means the Tibetan people.