Cordial relations between India and China essential: Dalai Lama

Cordial relations between India and China essential: Dalai Lama Jaipur, Jan 25 : Revered spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has said that cordial relations between India and China were essential to maintain a genuine friendship.

The 77-year-old spiritual leader said this on Thursday while attending the opening of the Jaipur Literature Festival in Rajasthan.

He added that China has to learn a lot from its democratic neighbour India.

"Genuine friendship, good relations between China and India is very essential, the genuineness of the ''Hindi- Chini bhai bhai'', on the basis of mutual trust, is very essential. China is the most populated nation, India most populated democratic country. I think (they can learn a) lot of things from India, the Chinese," said Dalai Lama.

While preaching Ahimsa or non-violence, the Dalai Lama stressed on the need for dialogue in place of violence to resolve disputes across the world.

"Source of conflict there, disagreement there, different interests there- then how to keep these problems (from) not reach violence is dialogue, talks, face to face. So therefore this 21st century, should be the century of dialogue, this also much depends on education," said Dalai Lama.

China considers the Dalai Lama, Tibetan religious leader, a dangerous separatist and hopes Tibetan resistance will fade when he dies.

Beijing says it has brought economic growth and education to a backward, feudal society previously ruled by a theocracy and fiefdom.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual leader Dalai Lama has for years said he seeks autonomy and religious freedom in Tibet, not independence. This "middle way" policy has never convinced Beijing. (ANI)