Dalai Lama and Chinese President visits to coincide

In what could be a great opportunity for Asia, the Dalai Lama and Chinese President Hu Jintao will both visit the United States at the same time during late April.

Although the two are not scheduled to meet, China has recently stated that it does not rule out a visit by the Dalai Lama to China. And for the Dalai Lama's part, he has over the past decade made it clear that he is seeking true autonomy rather than independence from Beijing.

The Tibetan religious leader will be attending inter-faith meetings in San Franciso before heading on a two-week trip to South America.

Hu is slated to meet with President George W. Bush and many believe that the U.S. will use the visit to pressure China on various issues.

The 70-year-old Dalai Lama fled Tibet after the invasion of 1959 and has said that he would like to return and live the rest of his days in his home country.


Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, capital of exiled Tibetan nation in March, 2006. AFP photo from Yahoo Asian News.