Like Chinese, Tibetans too love their culture: Dalai Lama

DHARAMSALA: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said that as Chinese love their culture, the Tibetans too love their culture and seek to preserve it, while expressing hope of "returning to homeland".

"Just as the Chinese love their culture, we Tibetans love our culture and language and seek to preserve them... The Chinese also follow the Nalanda tradition, but not as rigorously as we do.

"While young Chinese today can't even read their classical Buddhist texts, we can elaborate the different philosophical points of view. This is something to be proud of," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying in his official website.

He was addressing his community in Trondheim in Norway today.

"Things are changing in China. There will be an opportunity for us to return to our homeland. We have all worked hard and that day will dawn. Do not lose heart," the leader, living in exile since 56 years, said.

The 14th Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland and has lived in exile in India ever since.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his advocacy for Tibet in the country and around the world.