Dalai Lama to speak at UBC conference on Tibet and the contemporary world

UBC and its Institute of Asian Research will welcome his
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to campus next year.

The Dalai Lama will deliver the keynote address at a two-day
academic conference, Tibet and the Contemporary World, to
be held at UBC April 19 and 20, 2004.

"In a time of great crisis, the Dalai Lama is a remarkable
voice for peace, security and harmony between people,"
said Dr. Pitman Potter, Director of the Institute of Asian
Research. "We look forward to this rare honour to share
in his company and exchange ideas."

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people
and a world leader for peace and the environment. He has
lived in exile in north India since 1959.

Tibet and the Contemporary World will gather academics from
around the world to discuss economics, social policy and international
relations pertaining to Tibet. Most meetings will be held
at UBC’s C.K. Choi Building, home to the Institute of Asian
Research.

In conjunction with the conference, world political and spiritual
leaders will participate in a roundtable discussion on peace,
spirituality and compassion in the contemporary world at the
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University.

During his visit, the Dalai Lama will receive an honorary
Doctor of Laws degree from UBC. He will also be honoured with
a musical tribute featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
April 19 at the Orpheum Theatre and present a public talk
in the same venue April 20.

The Institute for Asian Research at UBC is Canada’s foremost
research centre for the study of Asia. With a broad geographic
reach extending to China, India and South Asia, Japan, Korea
and Southeast Asia, the Institute has played a central role
in building UBC’s excellence in research, teaching and community
liaison in matters pertaining to Asia.

Additional details about the conference will be announced
at a later date.

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