International Campaign for Tibet

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets British Prime Minister following Templeton Prize ceremony in London

The Dalai Lama meeting David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg.

May 15, 2012

•  On May 14, the Dalai Lama met British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy in the ruling coalition, Nick Clegg. In response to the stormy reaction from Beijing to the meeting, the British government said that it was up to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to choose with whom they meet.

•  Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama received a major award, the Templeton Prize, in a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral. The prize was awarded in recognition of the Dalai Lam’s achievements in spirituality and science. The Dalai Lama became the second person with Mother Teresa to be honored with both the Nobel Peace Prize and Templeton Prize, which while lesser-known is the largest single annual financial award given to an individual by a philanthropic organization.

The Dalai Lama’s meeting with the British Prime Minister, characterized as “private,” was swiftly condemned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry that warned that British leaders should fully consider the "serious consequences" of meeting the Dalai Lama. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao reportedly summoned the British ambassador in Beijing to complain about the meeting, saying that it "seriously interfered" with China's internal affairs. Nonetheless, the British government defended the meeting, with a spokesperson saying: "The Dalai Lama travels all over the world. He has visited the UK on several occasions and met with previous prime ministers. It is for the prime minister and deputy prime minister to choose who they see. The Dalai Lama is an important religious figure and advocate for peace and the prime minister regularly meets with such figures." (AFP, May 15).

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