Dalai Lama's visit
July 29, 2009
The Dalai Lama can count on the sympathy and support of Germans in his efforts to bring greater independence to Tibet, Koch said after meeting the spiritual leader in Neu-Isenburg on Wednesday.
Koch praised the Dalai Lama's commitment to peaceful methods to raise awareness around the world of the problems facing Tibetans. The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said that he is not advocating separatism for Tibet, rather cultural autonomy for Tibetans.
Following Koch's words, the 74-year old Dalai Lama laid a traditional white Buddhist shawl on the politician's shoulders as a gesture of friendship. He said that he was "very happy" to be in Germany again.
Over the next few days, the Dalai Lama is set to give a series of lectures in Frankfurt on topics such as peace, the environment, the economy and ethics.
On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with Federal Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul. It remains to be seen how their meeting is received by Chinese officials. In 2007, relations with Beijing soured over Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to receive the Tibetan leader.
Next Monday, the Dalai Lama will be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Marburg, after which he will travel onward to Switzerland. He is scheduled to return to India - his home in exile - on August 7.
The Dalai Lama first visited Germany in 1973. Since then, he's returned 35 times, making Germany his most-visited country in Europe.
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Editor: Neil King