A series of diplomatic delegations have visited Tibet in recent months, according to media reports from Beijing and Lhasa. Diplomats from the United States, Mexico, India, and Germany as well as parliamentarians from New Zealand and Belgium have visited Tibet between April and June 2002.
The U.S. Ambassador to China, Clark Randt, visited Tibet from April 8 to 12,2002. He met Xu Mingyang, vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government, among other officials.
A delegation of members of the New Zealand Parliament, led by Graham Kelly, was in Lhasa from April 10, 2002. They met Dorjee, vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government.
On June 20, Joachim Schmillen, head of Planning Staff of the German Foreign Ministry, met with Lobsang Thondup, vice chair of the TAR Government, in Lhasa.
Robert Denis, vice-chairman of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium, visited Lhasa on June 19, 2002 and met with Ragdi, head of the TAR People’s Congress.
On June 22, 2002, visiting Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Jorge G. Castaneda, met Legchok, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in Lhasa.
India’s Ambassador to China, Shiv Shankar Menon, began a 15-day visit to Tibet on June 22, 2002. This is for the first time that an Indian ambassador in Beijing has visited Tibet.
Additionally, a non-governmental economic delegation from South Korea exchanged views on economic cooperation with Xu Mingyang, vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government, in Lhasa on June 12, 2002.