`Lien Ho Pao', Taipei, in Chinese 26 Apr 97

Text of report by Taiwanese newspaper `Lien Ho Pao' A special interview by Lin Pao-ching, our Washington reporter entitled: "Dalai said his office in Taiwan will be established in a month"

The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said on 24th April that his trip to Taiwan was more successful than expected and he was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic people of Taiwan. He said that it was possible he might pay another visit to Taiwan in one or two years, and his religious and cultural office in Taiwan is expected to be established within a month.

The Dalai Lama said that during his visit to Taiwan he had been invited by some groups to visit again to preach Buddhism there. The recent visit to Taiwan has set a precedent, he said, and it will be easier next time. He said he would like to pay another visit to Taiwan as early as in a year or two.

The Dalai said his religious and cultural office in Taiwan is expected to be established in a month and will be presided over by his London representative, Kesang Takla. Kesang Takla is one of three women among the 10 or more people representing the Dalai in foreign countries. She is the second wife of Takla Phuntshok Tashi, husband of the Dalai's sister who died several years ago.

Takla Phuntshok Tashi, who had visited Taiwan several times, has a good understanding of Taiwan.

In the past, Tibetans who lived in exile did not have a good understanding about Taiwan's people, believing that there was no difference between the Taiwan people and Chinese people. As a result, the Dalai Lama did not even use the car which was given to him as a gift by President Li Teng-hui. The Dalai's visit to Taiwan this time was decided on after debates by his government-in-exile. The Washington-based Radio Free Asia station and the Voice of America's Tibetan-language service all sent reporters to cover the stories about the trip, which were beamed towards Tibet and India every day to eliminate negative impressions many Tibetans had about Taiwan. The Dalai said that now he was using the car given by President Li.

The Dalai Lama explained why his visit to Taiwan took place smoothly. First, he was sincerely invited by President Li Teng-hui and Buddhist people. Secondly, this trip was entirely of a religious nature. It could be guaranteed that there was no governmental unit in Taiwan, particularly the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, involved in it. But the Dalai Lama also pointed out that he did not agree with the idea to dismantle the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission. With this trip to Taiwan, some misunderstandings of the past have been clarified.

He said that he could feel the strong desire of the people in Taiwan's Buddhist circles for him to make the visit. He said that as a lama, he has a responsibility to assist these people in promoting Buddhism. He also planned to sponsor a World Buddhist Congress, inviting Buddhist scholars from around the world to meet together to study Buddhism.