Update: Gordon Brown will meet H.H. the Dalai Lama in May

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has finally announced that he will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK in May. The Prime Minister also spoke to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and “made it absolutely clear that there had to be an end to violence in Tibet.”

They also spoke about the possibility of dialogue between His Holiness and the Chinese leadership. “The Premier told me that subject to two things that the Dalai Lama has already said - that he does not support the total independence of Tibet and that he renounces violence - that he would be prepared to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama,” Mr Brown said.

This is, as Tsering Tashi, the London representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said, “great news that will be welcomed not only by Tibetans but also by everyone who loves and cherishes peace and freedom.” It also fulfils the principal demands of the online petition we began two days ago.

Well done, Mr. Brown, you have done the right thing. If other world leaders can follow suit, and put similar pressure on the Chinese leadership (and of course, many already have), who knows what might happen?

Further Update: Prince Charles has also announced he will meet His Holiness in May.

Tags: china, dalai lama, dialogue, gordon brown, meeting, prime minister, Wen Jiabao