Washington DC: On Tuesday, 12 May 2026, Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso attended 11th founding anniversary of Youth for Umaylam (Y4U), an initiative and organisation started by local Tibetan youth to promote Middle Way Policy in Minnesota. Tenzin Pasang, former staffer assistant to Representative Betty McCollum was also invited to speak on importance of civic engagement in advocacy work. Members of local Tibetan community joined the event marking decade of youth-led effort to advance Middle Way.
On the eve of the founding day event, Tsultrim Gyatso coordinated a meeting to connect the youth board members of Y4U with local Chinese democracy activist Shi Minglei, wife to prominent Chinese human rights activist and political prisoner Cheng Yuan. In an informal and interactive environment, it brought together two parties united by a shared experience of advocating for human rights and democratic freedoms in the face of repression by the Chinese government. The dialogue marked a meaningful step toward building solidarity and mutual understanding between the two communities at the grassroots level.
Delivering a keynote presentation at the anniversary event, Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso provided a comprehensive overview of the Middle Way Policy, tracing its historical evolution in the context of political landscape changes of contemporary China under Communist Party rule. He examined how the policy has consistently served as a principled and resilient framework Tibetan struggle anchored in the values of non-violence and dialogue.
A significant portion of his address was devoted to the importance of Chinese outreach as an integral component of Tibetan advocacy. Tsultrim drew a clear and deliberate distinction between the Chinese Communist Party as a political institution and the Chinese people as a whole, cautioning against the conflation of the two. He urged the participants on cultivating engagements with the Chinese community, framing them not as opponents but as potential allies in the broader struggle.
Tsultrim closed his remarks by extending his sincere appreciation to the youth members of Y4U for their commendable initiative, leadership, and steadfast dedication in championing the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration. He acknowledged their efforts as an invaluable contribution to the continuity and vitality of Tibetan advocacy at the grassroots level, expressing confidence that the future of the movement is well-served by their commitment and vision. Together, the two days of engagement reflect a broader momentum within Minnesota’s Tibetan community, one that is increasingly looking to forge alliances, deepen civic roots, and sustain a new generation of advocates committed to the principles of the Middle Way.
-Report Filed by Office of Tibet, DC
