Dalai Lama bats for cooperation between Trump, Putin

Both should work together for a peace, says Dalai Lama

"Dialogue" should drive the 21st century, the Dalai Lama on Saturday said, hoping that newly elected US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will "work together" for a peaceful global order.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader made the remarks while observing that peace and non-violence was "growing" in the current era as he lauded the role of multilateralism, especially the European Union (EU).

"I am one of the admirers of EU and look forward to African Union, Latin American Union, Asian Union and one at the global level. Using force has become outdated. The 21st century should be the century of dialogue," the Dalai Lama said, and exuded hope that Trump and Putin would work together.

He was speaking at an event organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) at the Federation House here.

Batting for woman empowerment, the 81-year-old spiritual leader said they are more suited to be in leadership roles for they are inherently equipped with compassion and went on to suggest that a "female Dalai Lama" was very much a possibility.

"I was asked this question in an interview many years ago (on female Dalai Lama). I had said why not? If circumstances suggest that a female Dalai Lama would be more effective. I would say the role can go to an outsider as well," he said.

The Dalai Lama, who took shelter in India after fleeing Tibet in 1959, said India's tradition of respecting all religions as well as non-believers was "very relevant" in contemporary times while underlining the virtues of secularism and tolerance.