Dharamsala, June 15 : As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarks on a visit to China this weekend, the Tibetan exile administration places hopes on history and it also urges him to push for a Tibet-China dialogue in Beijing.

With China showing no compromise and as the Dalai Lama ages, the Tibetan administration, based in this north Indian hill station in Himachal Pradesh, is looking to history as His Holiness plans for the future.  Strongly advocating the cause, vocal activist for Tibet Richard Gere's advocacy International Campaign for Tibet has called on Blinken to substantively raise the Tibetan issue with Chinese leaders, including by pushing them to resume dialogue with the envoys of 87-year-old Dalai Lama -- the globally recognisable face of Tibet.  The State Department announced on Wednesday that Blinken will visit the China and the UK from June 16-21.  Blinken's last attempt to visit China was derailed by an alleged Chinese spy balloon.  Under the Tibetan Policy Act, the Secretary is obligated to act on US support for Tibet, which the Chinese government has illegally occupied for over 60 years.  Blinken's visit coincides with Wednesday's concluded high-level visit of the USAID, led by Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming Isobel Coleman, to this hill station after holding parleys with the Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, leadership comprising Penpa Tsering, who was elected democratically in 2021 as the second-ever leader, or sikyong, of the government-in-exile.  His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also had an audience with the USAID delegation.  Since 2012, the USAID has intensified its partnership with the CTA to help deliver essential services to Tibetan communities in India and Nepal.  Despite being scattered across the globe, Tibetans, under the guidance of His Holiness, have perfected, advanced, and importantly preserved their democracy over the decades.