China needs to learn from India about democracy: Dalai Lama

Democracy in this country is very deeply rooted not because of the country8217;s poor conditions,but because of transparency,8221; the Dalai Lama told Thailand8217;s leading English daily 8216;Nation8217; in an interview.

Noting that military occupation would not solve problems,the spiritual leader said 8220;in China,there are state secrets.

People in China should learn from India8217;s experience.

He stressed that the world trend was the rule of law,transparency,fairness,honesty and respect for human values.

Dalai,who is based in Dharamsala,said China was going counter to the trends and needed to learn from India about democracy among people of different languages and ethnic backgrounds.

8220;I laughed when I heard the Chinese government had called me a splittist. I take pity with the Chinese hard-liners. They are harmful to their future,8221; he told the paper in Dharamshala.

He said he was confident that he would live up to the age of 113,visit Beijing,witness a free Tibet and pass on his political power to an elected leader.

The Dalai Lama said he planned to retire later this year and devolve political power to an elected leader.

He said though he expected his plans of retirement and power devolution to be supported by his ministers at an upcoming parliamentary meet,he would try to convince them of his views if they disagreed with him.

8220;Some formalities must change,8221; the Dalai Lama said.

He noted that he had told Tibetans that education was important and that they should adopt peaceful means to achieve Tibet8217;s autonomy.

8220;My position is clear: autonomy. The international community supports us because we use peaceful means to call for our country8217;s autonomy,8221; the paper quoted him as saying.

He said he hoped to see a free Tibet while he was alive.

Some 20 or 30 years from now,he said he would concentrate on his spiritual,not political,role,confident that he8217; was fit enough to live through his 113 years.

8220;Forty years ago there,I was predicted to live to 113. One Tibetan writing dating back 100 years describes a person in today8217;s world who will live through 113 years. That person is thought to be me because I share his qualities. In my dreams,I am 113 years old. I8217;m quite sure of my age. You can extend your life.

I8217;ll live long enough to see a free Tibet in my lifetime. If I8217;m still alive then,I8217;ll choose the next Dalai Lama on my own. All my political power will be with an elected leader. I8217;ll concentrate on my spiritual duty. We can meet for an interview in Beijing then. Then,you need to prepare some oxygen and go to Tibet,8221; he told the interviewer.