Mongolia lets Dalai Lama in to preach
The Dalai Lama has preached to thousands of suppor ters in Mongolia.
The visit by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is likely to test the country’s ties with China at a time when it is seeking a critical aid package from its powerful neighbour.
The monk addressed followers at the a monastery in the capital Ulan Bator and spoke about materialism to kick-start a four-day visit.
Mongolia has said the trip will be purely religious in nature and will not include meetings with officials.
Nevertheless, it could have repercussions for Mongolia’s relationship with China, which briefly closed its border with the country in 2002 to protest a visit by the Dalai Lama.
China views the monk – who f led Tibet during an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959 – as a separatist seeking to split Tibet from China and strongly op poses all countries who host him.
On Friday, China’s foreign ministry strongly urged Mongolia to deny the Dalai Lama a visit for the sake of a “sound and steady” development of ties.
The visit comes at a time when Mongolian leaders are seeking a £ 3.4billion loan from Beijing to pull the country out of a deep recession.
Mongolian Buddhism is closely tied to Tibet’s strain and many in the heavily Buddhist country revere the Dalai Lama, who is now based in India.