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| Dalai Lama's speech to Yorkshire business leaders | Dalai Lama's speech to Yorkshire business leaders |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, is due to deliver a speech to business leaders in West Yorkshire as he begins a tour of the UK. | |
| He is expected to discuss business ethics at the Yorkshire International Business Convention in Leeds. | He is expected to discuss business ethics at the Yorkshire International Business Convention in Leeds. |
| China had earlier threatened to pull its athletes out of their Leeds Olympic training camp because of the visit. | China had earlier threatened to pull its athletes out of their Leeds Olympic training camp because of the visit. |
| The speech is expected to go ahead but Leeds City Council has removed any association with the convention. | The speech is expected to go ahead but Leeds City Council has removed any association with the convention. |
| Tibet is governed as an autonomous region of China and Beijing claims a centuries-old sovereignty over the Himalayan region. | Tibet is governed as an autonomous region of China and Beijing claims a centuries-old sovereignty over the Himalayan region. |
| But the allegiances of many Tibetans lie with the Dalai Lama, seen by his followers as a living god, but by China as a separatist threat. | But the allegiances of many Tibetans lie with the Dalai Lama, seen by his followers as a living god, but by China as a separatist threat. |
| 'Frozen' diplomacy | |
| The BBC's China Correspondent Damian Grammaticas said: "This eight-day visit to the UK could put Britain's ties with China under new strain. | |
| "Since the Prime Minister David Cameron met the Dalai Lama in London last month Beijing has frozen diplomatic exchanges with British ministers. | |
| "China's Communist rulers insist Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, a former winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is an enemy of the Chinese state. | |
| "He says he only wants to end oppression of Tibetans and win autonomy for his people." | |
| Leeds is due to host China's pre-Olympic Games training centre, with about 220 athletes, coaches and support staff based in the city from early July. | Leeds is due to host China's pre-Olympic Games training centre, with about 220 athletes, coaches and support staff based in the city from early July. |
| Leeds City Council said the hosting deal was worth £250,000. | Leeds City Council said the hosting deal was worth £250,000. |
| The Dalai Lama is the latest high-profile guest at the Yorkshire International Business Convention. | The Dalai Lama is the latest high-profile guest at the Yorkshire International Business Convention. |
| 'Wonderful opportunity' | |
| Previous speakers have included astronaut Neil Armstrong, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US President Bill Clinton. | Previous speakers have included astronaut Neil Armstrong, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US President Bill Clinton. |
| Mike Firth, convention founder, said: "He is one of the most travelled men in the world, he has spoken with the most prominent of world leaders, and is one of the most high-profile guests we have ever had." | Mike Firth, convention founder, said: "He is one of the most travelled men in the world, he has spoken with the most prominent of world leaders, and is one of the most high-profile guests we have ever had." |
| Mr Thubten Samdup, representative of the Dalai Lama, said the speech was "a wonderful opportunity for Yorkshire's business leaders to hear a distinctive message of ethics and morality from one of the world's most revered spiritual leaders". | Mr Thubten Samdup, representative of the Dalai Lama, said the speech was "a wonderful opportunity for Yorkshire's business leaders to hear a distinctive message of ethics and morality from one of the world's most revered spiritual leaders". |
| The 76-year-old Dalai Lama will appear with actor and comedian Russell Brand at a youth event at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday. |