RICHARD GERE - GERE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR CHINA/TIBET RELATIONS

GERE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR CHINA/TIBET RELATIONS

Hollywood actor RICHARD GERE is hopeful the historic election of U.S. President BARACK OBAMA will inspire China's citizens to one day elect a Tibetan leader - ending decades of conflict between the two nations.
The star is a political activist and a Buddhist, and is particularly passionate about Chinese/Tibetan relations.
He appeared in Washington D.C. on Monday (09Mar09) to urge U.S. Congressmen to lend their support to Tibet in the country's fight against oppression by the Communist government in neighbouring China.
And Gere admits he has high hopes that the inauguration of Obama as the first black leader of the U.S. this year (Jan09) will have a positive effect on the China/Tibet conflict.
He says, "Thirty years, 20 years ago, who would have thought there could be a black president of the United States? Things change rapidly - and it's usually in crisis and tragedy that things change the most.
"I can see a time when there may well be a Tibetan-Chinese prime minister or president or whatever form of government there is then. But the words have to be spoken."
Gere is also confident about the role international governments could play in persuading Chinese officials to take a softer line with Tibet.
He adds, "I think the economy and our fear of losing the Chinese market is a straw dog. I don't buy it at all.
"China has so committed itself to the world economic system that it can't go back now. They can't function without us and they can't function without Europe.
"I think we are actually in a very strong position vis-a-vis China."
China fought an uprising in Tibet by invading the country in 1959, sending Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama into exile in India.