Dalai Lama has 'no worries' about Donald Trump becoming President
The 81-year-old monk says he expects Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies to be toned down now the election campaign is over.
Wednesday 23 November 2016 10:36, UK
The Dalai Lama has said he has "no worries" about Donald Trump becoming the next President of the United States.
During a visit to Mongolia, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told reporters that he expects the controversial politician will have to adjust his policies in line with global realities.
He also said he was looking forward to meeting Mr Trump after his inauguration on 20 January, but such an encounter would likely irritate China.
"I feel during the election, the candidate has more freedom to express," the leader of Tibetan Buddhism said.
"Now once they (are) elected, having the responsibility, then they have to carry their cooperation, their work, according (to) reality. So I have no worries."
During the bitter campaign, some of Mr Trump's remarks were deemed offensive to US minority groups including Hispanics and Muslims.
Beijing had urged Mongolia to cancel the 81-year-old monk's four-day visit, as China has long accused him of seeking to split Tibet from the country.
However, the Dalai Lama insisted his trip had no political purpose - adding that he had not publicly called for Tibetan independence in more than 40 years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Mr Trump on his election victory in a phone call, following on from the President-elect's repeated allegations that Beijing has engaged in unfair trade practices.
State media in China have applauded Mr Trump's announcement that on his first day in office, as it was a free trade agreement which had
Shortly before the Dalai Lama's comments, from the controversy over Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server - a scandal which played a prominent role in the election campaign.
At a meeting with The New York Times, Mr Trump also said he was keeping an "open mind" on the issue of climate change and said he thinks there is some connection between global warming and human activity - something he has dismissed in the past.