Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 14: The political leader of the Tibetan government in exile, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), President Penpa Tsering, took part in the Forum 2000 Conference, held from October 13 to 15 in Prague, Czech Republic. This year’s conference, titled “Proving Democracy’s Resolve and Resilience,” brought together global leaders and thinkers to discuss the pressing issue of democracy.
Among the prominent attendees was former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, whose presence emphasised the forum’s commitment to defending democratic values amid rising authoritarianism. This strategic meeting between the two leaders also highlighted their shared stance against China’s authoritarian regime as Beijing has repeatedly denounced the Tsai and the CTA as “separatist.”
During his meeting with representatives of Tibet Support Groups, Zuzana from the Potala Himalayan Center and Edita Kleckerová from Lungta, President Penpa Tsering discussed plans for the upcoming 90th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with a focus on project implementation, as reported by the CTA’s official website, tibet.net.
Tsering also encouraged the dignitaries to explore “Tibet Brief 2020” and Professor Lau’s book on Tibet, both of which present compelling evidence that Tibet has never been part of China. He urged them to critically evaluate these materials instead of accepting the Chinese government’s narrative presented to the international community.
Meanwhile, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is set to deliver a speech at the forum, where she will share Taiwan’s journey toward democracy and prosperity, according to Taipei Times. In her address, she will call on like-minded nations to unite in addressing the pressing political and economic challenges ahead.
The Forum 2000 Conference was established in 1997 when President Václav Havel and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel invited global leaders to Prague to discuss the pressing challenges facing humanity at the dawn of the new millennium. Since its inception, Forum 2000 has grown into a renowned and influential conference series, where prominent speakers engage with a diverse international audience on issues such as human rights, the state of democracy, and the challenges to the international rules-based order.
