Toyako, Japan - Leaders of the world's major economies linked in the Group of Eight were urged Sunday to raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese state and party leader Hu Jintao at their summit in Japan. The latest dialogue between Chinese officials and envoys of the Dalai Lama "clearly has not met the expectations of the international community," said Mary Beth Markey, vice president of the International Campaign for Tibet.
Hu is due to attend the G8 summit on Tuesday when the leaders discuss global warming and other issues with representatives of emerging economies on the island of Hokkaido.
The Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, said the latest round of talks with China last week in Beijing was disappointing and difficult, and had failed to lead to a breakthrough.
He called the discussions "one of the most difficult sessions" the two sides have held and questioned the purpose of continuing the on- off dialogue that resumed after demonstrations in Tibet in March.
"In the course of our discussions we were compelled to candidly convey to our counterparts that in the absence of serious and sincere commitment on their part the continuation of the present dialogue process would serve no purpose."
Lody Gyari, who returned to India on Saturday to report to the Tibetan spiritual leader, said the talks in Beijing were held "at a crucial time in our relationship."
"The recent events in Tibet clearly demonstrated the Tibetan people's genuine and deep-rooted discontentment with the People's Republic of China's policies," he said in a statement.
"The urgent need for serious and sincere efforts to address this issue with courage and vision in the interest of stability, unity and harmony of all nationalities" of China was obvious, he added.
