Washington D.C.: Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration commenced an official visit to the United States on 6 December 2024. Upon his arrival at Dulles Airport, he was received by Representative Namgyal Choedup and Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer at the Office of Tibet, Washington, D.C. Despite the cold weather and the long journey, Sikyong immediately immersed himself in a series of engagements.
Sikyong’s demanding itinerary began with a luncheon hosted by the Office of Tibet in Washington, D.C. Among the notable attendees were Tencho Gyatso, the President of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), and Bhuchung K. Tsering of ICT’s Research and Monitoring Unit. Although the luncheon maintained a casual atmosphere, the participants engaged in substantive strategic discussions, evaluating the current status of Tibetans and exploring potential developments under the Trump Administration.
Later, Sikyong met with Mary Beth of The Bridge Fund (TBF), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture, language, and environment through community driven programs. For over 28 years, TBF has successfully implemented initiatives in Tibetan regions, fostering collaboration with local communities, including within the Tibetan Autonomous Region. As TBF approaches its closure, Mary Beth provided Sikyong with a comprehensive briefing on the organisation’s achievements and projects in Tibet.
The day continued with a meeting between Sikyong and representatives from Baron, a prominent scholars, including Tashi and Suzette. Suzette, whose primary focus is the religious aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, expressed her desire to visit and explore Tibetan monasteries and nunneries within the Tibetan diaspora in India. She noted the growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly among individuals from China, and emphasised the significant role religion plays in fostering cross cultural connections. Sikyong offered his insights and recommendations to enhance her ideas. This engaging discussion was followed by a brief interview conducted by Namgyal Shastri from Voice of America (VOA).
On the second day of Sikyong’s visit to the United States, the Office of Tibet in Washington, D.C., hosted a warm welcome reception in honour of Sikyong and the participants of the 22nd North American Tibetan Associations (NATA) Conference. The conference, scheduled to take place on 8 December at the NED Conference Hall, will bring together over 50 members, including the Presidents and Secretaries of 26 Tibetan Associations out of a total 36 Tibetan Associations across the United States.
