San Francisco, California, October 30, 2003 - One of many events planned for Bay Area Friends of Tibet's 18th annual Tibet Day cultural fair is a political panel discussion on explorations in Tibetan-Chinese cooperation. The event will be held at Fort Mason in San Francisco on November 15th from 11-6pm. A $10 donation will be requested at the door for adults; children under 12 and seniors $5.

At the specific request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bay Area Friends of Tibet will explore outreach opportunities with Chinese communities. At 4 PM, BAFoT will host a panel discussion titled "Explorations in Tibetan-Chinese Outreach and Cooperation". The panel will consist of Chinese and Tibetan political and cultural experts, including:

• Arijia Rinpoche of Kumbum Monastery and the Marin county-based Tibetan Center for Wisdom and Compassion and exiled from Tibet after refusing to accept the Chinese government-appointed Panchen Lama
• Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan filmmaker and ex-Chinese political prisoner,
• Peng, Ming, a Chinese Democracy advocate, ex-political prisoner & dissident
• Dawa Choezum, a Tibetan woman and Nepal-based Radio Free Asia reporter
• Pema Chhinjor, former Security Minister for Tibetan Government-in-Exile

Tibet Day will also feature Tibetan art, music, dance, food and handicrafts. Events include: opening blessings by high Tibetan Buddhist Lamas, live musical performances by world-famous Tibetan groups Chaksampa and Semshug Pundha, Tibetan thangka painting demo by renowned thangka painter, Jamyong Singye, traditional Tibetan song and dance by Tibetan Children's Chorus, and 100s of Tibetan arts and crafts for sale. There will also be free cake in celebration of Bay Area Friends of Tibet's 20th Anniversary.

ABOUT BAY AREA FRIENDS OF TIBET
Founded in 1983, BAFoT is a non-sectarian, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is the US West Coast's original Tibet support group. BAFoT educates the public about Tibet and the Tibetan people; organizes grassroots projects and events to benefit Tibetans locally and internationally. BAFoT organizes events in cooperation with local Tibetan groups including the Tibetan Association of Northern California, San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress, Dalai Lama Foundation, Tibet Justice Center, Tibetan Nuns Project, Committee of 100 for Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet.