LONDON — A minister underlined London's support for greater Tibetan autonomy during an unprecedented visit to Lhasa this week, and talks in Beijing, the Foreign Office said Friday.
Junior Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis visited China from Monday to Thursday, and made the first ever trip to Tibet by a British government member, 18 months after an internationally-criticised Chinese crackdown in Tibet.
"This is a historic visit," he was quoted as saying by an FCO statement, adding that it was in the context of "our decision to change UK policy, and the significant international concern following the events in March 2008."
"We recognise Tibet as an autonomous region of China ... But long-term stability can only be achieved through respect for human rights and greater autonomy," he said.
"This depends on substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the representatives of (exiled Tibetan leader) the Dalai Lama. China has said all matters except independence can be discussed. But its position has hardened.
"I urged them to reiterate the earlier position," he said.
In Tibet, Lewis notably met the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Drepung Monastery, while in Beijing he discussed the situation there with the vice minister of the United Front Work Department.
Ahead of the visit pro-Tibet campaigners had urged Lewis to speak out against China's rule of the Himalayan territory and what they argue are increased human rights abuses since last year's unrest in the region.
The authorities say rioters killed 21 people in the March 2008 unrest, but exile groups claim more than 200 people died, many as a result of the security crackdown.
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