'Will be disappointed if Tibet issue not raised by PM Modi': Tibetan women's body

Activists from the Tibetan Women's Association in Dharamshala said they will be 'disappointed' if Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not raise the issue of Tibet's freedom during his visit to China.

"With India being the largest democracy in the world, we have a lot of hope and expectations, especially from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is visiting China. But it would be very disappointing if the Tibet issue is not raised," Tibetan Women's Association spokesperson Neema La said.

Meanwhile, another member of the association, Tsering Lhazom, said that the people of Tibet are grateful to India.

"The people of Tibet have a great hope that Prime Minister Modi will raise the issue of Tibet in his three-day visit to China... Not only the people of Tibet, but people all over the world know how grateful we have been to Indian people," she said.

Prime Minister Modi, who is on the first leg of his three-nation tour of China, Mongolia and South Korea, began his visit to the People's Republic by landing in Xi'an, the hometown of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During his visit of China, Prime Minister Modi will also travel to Beijing and Shanghai, before departing for the second leg of his tour, Mongolia. He will conclude his tour with a visit of South Korea, where he will participate in the sixth Asian Leadership Conference.