Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday - October 7, 1997

Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) -- Buddhist Master Ching Hsin, president of the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China [ROC], is to lead a large delegation of Buddhist followers to visit the exiled Tibetan government in India.

The 200-member group will leave for India on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Buddhist association announced on Sunday. In addition to visiting the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala, the delegation will also meet with Tibet's spiritual leader and the head of the exiled Tibetan government, the Dalai Lama, the spokesman said.

The visit is designed mainly as a response to the Dalai Lama's unprecedented visit to Taiwan in March, which Master Ching Hsin helped organize, the spokesman said.

During his high-profile visit to Taiwan, the Dalai Lama received an enthusiastic welcome from local Buddhist followers and met with President Li Teng-hui and other senior ROC government officials.