US ambassador raises concerns during rare Tibet visit

The US ambassador to China urged Beijing to engage in substantive dialogue with exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama during a visit to the Himalayan region over the past week.

An embassy news release Saturday said Terry Branstad also expressed concerns about Chinese government interference in Tibetan Buddhists' freedom to organize and practice their religion. It said Branstad also raised long-standing concerns about the lack of consistent access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

The rare visit to the TAR and neighbouring Qinghai province ran Sunday through Saturday.

China tightly restricts access to Tibet by foreigners, especially journalists and diplomats. In response to those restrictions, the U.S. Congress last year passed an act that would deny entry to the United States for those involved in formulating or enforcing such policies.