Rebuffing Beijing’s wish that New Delhi bar the Dalai Lama from travelling to Arunachal Pradesh, Prime MInister Manmohan Singh has told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that the Tibetan spiritual leader was an “honoured guest”. The Dalai Lama plans to visit Arunachal Pradesh early next month.

“I explained to the Premier (Wen) last night that the Dalai Lama is our honoured guest. He is a religious leader. We do not allow Tibetan refugees to indulge in political activities and proof of that is that we took resolute action at the time of the Olympics (torch relay) last year following reports that some Tibetan refugees might disrupt the process. I reminded him that we did not allow the Tibetans to disrupt preparations for the Olympic Games,” Singh told reporters a day after he held bilateral talks with Wen on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits.

Asked if the plan had changed for the Dalai Lama to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, Singh said he was not aware of his travel arrangements. New Delhi has already made it clear that the Dalai Lama was free to travel anywhere in India, including Arunachal Pradesh.

Saying he had a “frank and constructive exchange of views” with his Chinese counterpart, Singh said both sides discussed all issues and agreed that existing mechanisms on bilateral cooperation should be utilised to resolve issues amicably in the spirit of strategic and cooperative partnership.

Describing the boundary issue with China as a “complex question which cannot be wished away”, Singh said Wen and he agreed that “both sides have an obligation to maintain peace and tranquility on the borders pending resolution of the boundary question... both of us agreed that we should continue and strengthen efforts to build political trust and understanding.”

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