Dharamshala: A high-level bipartisan delegation from the United States visited the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and met with Tibetan leadership today on the eve of their much-anticipated meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, led the delegation that comprises Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker Emerita; Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), House Veterans Affairs Committee; Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), House Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), House Rules Committee; and Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation was accompanied by their family members and staff.
Upon arrival at Kangra Airport, members of the U.S. delegation were accorded a warm welcome reception by Kalon (Minister) Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information & International Relations (DIIR) and her aides made up of Secretary Karma Choeying, Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup from the Washington-based Office of Tibet, Secretary of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi Dhondup Gyalpo, Dharamshala Tibetan Settlement Officer Kunchok Migmar, and CTA’s Protocol Officer Tenzin Paljor.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking to the media. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Speaking to the media at the Airport, Congressman McCaul said, “We are very excited to see His Holiness tomorrow to talk about many things, including the bill that just passed out of Congress that basically says that the United States of America stands with the people of Tibet.” The Representative further assured that the bill would be signed by POTUS when the media asked.
In addition, to honour their dedicated support and commitment to finding solutions to the longstanding Tibet-China conflict, a throng of Tibetan residents, including young students and members of various NGOs, lined both sides of the road before the Hyatt Regency hotel to warmly greet the visiting U.S. legislators.
The delegation then stopped at Gangchen Kyishong to tour CTA premises following a short stay at the hotel, where they briefly met with CTA leadership, namely Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Tibetan Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Education Kalon Tharlam Dolma, Security Kalon Dolma Gyari, DIIR Kalon Norzin Dolma, Election & Public Service Commissioner Wangdu Tsering Pesur, Standing Committee Members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and Secretaries of CTA Departments and Offices.
As part of their visitation programme at CTA, the delegation visited the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and the Tibet Museum.
Later in the evening, CTA hosted a dinner reception at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in honour of the visiting lawmakers from the United States.
DIIR Kalon extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and thanked them for their staunch support for Tibet and solidarity with the Tibetan people and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and, particularly, for the Resolve Tibet Act.
Kalon Norzin Dolma, Department of Information and International Relations, CTA, welcoming the delegate members at the Kangra Airport.
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel presenting a ceremonial scarf to Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Sikyong Penpa Tsering interacting with Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, during the reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Tibetan Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok presenting ceremonial scarf to a member of the delegation. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addressing the delegation members and CTA leadership inside the Tibetan Parliament. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Rep. Michael McCaul addressing the delegation members and CTA leadership inside the Tibetan Parliament. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Rep. Gregory Meeks addressing the delegation members and CTA leadership inside the Tibetan Parliament. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Group photo of the Tibetan parliamentarians, Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Security Kalon Dolma Gyari with the members of high-level delegation from the U.S. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Group photo of the Tibetan parliamentarians, Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Security Kalon Dolma Gyari with the members of high-level delegation from the U.S. at the Tibetan Parliament’s entrance. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Kalon Dolma Gyari, Department of Security, CTA, explaining the exhibitions of the Tibet Museum to members of the U.S. delegation. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and other delegation members going through the exhibition about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s family members. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Tenzin Topdhen, Director of the Tibet Museum, explaining traditional Tibetan stone grinding mill to delegation members. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Kalon Norzin Dolma, Department of Information and International Relations, CTA, delivering a welcome speech during the dinner reception held at TIPA in honour of the members of the high-level delegation from the U.S. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Tibetan artists from TIPA performing a classical Tibetan dance at the dinner reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Members of the U.S. delegation and leadership of CTA during the dinner reception at TIPA. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Rep. Jim McGovern and his wife Lisa McGovern celebrating the latter’s birthday during the dinner reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Glimpse of the dinner reception held in honour of the members of the U.S delegation. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Group photo taken after the dinner reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Group photo taken after the dinner reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
Group photo taken after the dinner reception. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
