Sikyong Penpa Tsering to Attend Forum 2000 Conference in Prague
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 5 Oct: Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering departed Dharamsala on Monday for an official tour that will take him to Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Germany. The tour includes participation in the 30th Forum 2000 conference in Prague, which will bring together international political leaders, diplomats, activists and civil society representatives to discuss democracy, human rights and global challenges.
According to the CTA’s official website, Tibet.net, the Sikyong will undertake engagements in Delhi before departing for Zurich, Switzerland, on 8 October, where he is scheduled to hold official meetings on 9 and 10 October.
He will subsequently travel to Prague on 11 October to participate in the Forum 2000 conference on 12 and 13 October.
This year’s conference, titled “Reimagining the Power of the Powerless,” coincides with the 90th birth anniversary of former Czech President Václav Havel, a prominent advocate of democracy and human rights and one of the forum’s founders.
According to the organisers, the conference is expected to bring together approximately 800 participants from around 100 countries. Discussions will focus on democratic resilience, the international rules-based order, technological challenges to democracy, Ukraine and emerging geopolitical concerns.
Established in 1997 by Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa, Forum 2000 has developed into an international platform for dialogue on democracy, human rights and civic responsibility.
Following the conference, the Sikyong will travel to Germany on 15 October for official engagements scheduled through 17 October. He is expected to return to Delhi on 19 October before arriving in Dharamsala the following day.
