Prague, Czech Republic: On 13 October 2025 (CEST), Sikyong Penpa Tsering attended the second day of the 29th Forum 2000 Conference, which commenced with a plenary session at the Václav Havel Hall, presided over by H.E. Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic and H.E. Salomé Zourabichvili, the Fifth President of Georgia.
Following the session, Sikyong gave an interview to Czech TV Nova, during which he emphasised on Tibet’s enduring geopolitical and environmental significance. He highlighted Tibet’s role as the source of Asia’s major rivers, its ecological fragility, and its abundant natural resources, underscoring how these elements place Tibet at the heart of Asia’s environmental security. Sikyong further reflected on Tibet’s deep spiritual and cultural legacy rooted in its Buddhist tradition, stressing that the systematic erosion of the Tibetan language directly threatens the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism and, by extension, the cultural and spiritual identity of the Tibetan people.
At midday, Sikyong attended a luncheon with politicians from the Global South, which served as an informal yet meaningful forum for exchanging views on global democratic resilience, the prevailing political situations in their respective countries, and the growing influence of the People’s Republic of China across their regions.
Subsequently, Sikyong met with Saša Neuman, who presented his newly published book, Dalajláma – Havel – Praha 1990, a photographic tribute to the profound friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Václav Havel. This was followed by separate meetings with Jiří Kozák, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Jakub Klepal, Executive Director at the Forum 2000 Foundation.
Later in the day, Sikyong participated as one of the keynote speakers in a panel discussion titled “China: Where Will It Stop?”, held at the Václav Havel Hall. Among the other eminent panellists were Mark Lambert, a former official of the U.S. State Department; Da Chi Lao, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy; Shiori Yamao, Japan Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC); Emeka Lucky, visiting scholar; and Jamie Fly, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. The discussion explored China’s expanding authoritarian reach and its implications for the global order.
Sikyong concluded the day’s engagements by attending the Global Networking Dinner, where global leaders, parliamentarians, and advocates for democracy convened to foster dialogue and cooperation in defence of shared democratic values. Throughout the day, Sikyong was accompanied by Representative Thinlay Chukki and Phuntsok Topgyal, UN Advocacy Officer at the Tibet Bureau, Geneva, who assisted in facilitating the engagements.
Sikyong With Czech President Petr Pavel
Sikyong With Jakub Executive Director at Forum 2000
Sikyong with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech
Sikyong with Saša Neuman
With Ivone Soares, a Mozambican Politician
Global South Luncheon
Sikyong With President Pavel and Jakub
Plenary Session
Sikyong at the Global Networking Dinner
Sikyong’s Interview with Czech TV Nova
