masslive.com
Shannon Young
November 17, 2015
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern with the Congressional delegation in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa during their historic visit to Tibet. (Photo courtesy: Rep. McGovern’s office)
SPRINGFIELD ‒ Following his recent trip to China, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, this week touted congressional lawmakers’ efforts to promote human rights, climate change and cyber security issues abroad.
McGoverm, who co-chairs the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, joined Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats in traveling to Beijing, Hong Kong and Tibet to emphasize the importance of the U.S. and China working together to address climate change, enhance cyber space protections and to counter nuclear weapons.
“With this trip, our Congressional delegation continued the important dialogue between the U.S. and China,” the congressman said in a statement. “I have long raised concerns about China’s human rights record in Tibet. As the first Congressional delegation to enter Tibet since the 2008 unrest, this was an important opportunity to raise the voices of the Tibetan people.”
The Worcester Democrat added that the trip also touched on issues like autonomy and democracy in Hong Kong, as well as efforts to strengthen both human and women’s rights across China.
“America has a responsibility to stand up for human rights at home and abroad. Human rights in China, and Tibet in particular, continue to be an area of grave concern,” he said. “We will be looking at ways to increase the push for needed reforms in the days and weeks ahead.”
According to McGovern’s office, lawmakers emphasized Congress’ bipartisan support for the Dalai Lama, as well as the the importance of strengthening and protecting the Tibetan people’s human rights, religion and culture.
McGovern and other Democrats met with Tibetan Autonomous Region Secretary Chen Quanguo, TAR Vice Party Secretary Baima Chilin and Party Secretary of Lhasa Qi Zhala, his office said. The delegation, which included U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum, D-MN; Timothy Walz, D-MN; Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio; Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif.; and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., also visited the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, as well as met and observed monks at the Sera Monastery.
In Beijing, the lawmakers met with the Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang, National People’s Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang and National People’s Congress Vice Chairman Zhang Ping, as well as participated in a climate change forum at Peking University.
The delegation further met with Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung and Pan-Democratic, Labor and Liberal Party legislators, McGovern’s office said.
