'We want to live in peace with Chinese brothers and sisters'

His Holiness the Dalai Lama/File Photo

Bochum: His Holiness the Dalai Lama reiterated on Friday that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and said we want to live in peace with our Chinese brothers and sisters, Agence France-Presse reported.

His Holiness was addressing a news conference in the western city of Bochum on the second day of a visit to Germany.

"We are not seeking independence," but merely autonomy and more respect for Tibet culture, religion and language, His Holiness said.

His Holiness said that it was in China's best interest to improve relations with the Tibetans but that its policy had created resentment well beyond Tibet's borders.

The International community heaped a chorus of condemnation over China's violent handling of the peaceful protests across Tibet last month.

Tibetan spiritual Leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama hugs children in the Saint Nikolaus church in the western German city of Bochum(AFP/DDP/Volker Hartmann)

After arriving in Germany His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his condolences for those killed in this week's earthquake in China.

Meanwhile, on the morning of 14 May at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala, the Central Tibetan Administration organised a special prayer session for all those Chinese who lost their lives in the natural disaster.

The day after the disaster struck China on 12 May, the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration sent a condolence message expressing sense of great sorrow for the loss of lives and properties. The message noted: "In this hour of Chinese national tragedy, our heart goes to brothers and sisters of the people of China and pray for an early recovery from the shock and difficulties that they have gone through." His Holiness also held talks with the premiers of two of Germany's 16 states and with the speaker of the German parliament.

In Bochum on Friday afternoon around 3,000 people gathered to hear him give a speech on human rights and globalisation.

"This should be the century of peace and dialogue," His Holiness told the cheering crowd, calling for all nuclear weapons to be scrapped and for the world to be demilitarised.

His Holiness added that globalisation must be on the wrong path when it leads to rising food prices, and called for harmony between the world's religions.

His Holiness was due to speak in Moenchengladbach on Saturday, in Nuremberg and Bamberg on Sunday and at the historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Monday.

After Germany, His Holiness will visit the United Kingdom from 20 to 30 May.

--Agence France-Presse