Sikyong Penpa Tsering during the interview with ABC News. 

Sydney: The first day of Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s second official visit to Australia commenced on 11 July 2025 in Sydney with a live morning interview on ABC News at the ABC Studios, Sydney. The timing of the interview was particularly significant, taking place ahead of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China.

During the interview, Sikyong called on the Prime Minister to express an interest in visiting Tibet to the Chinese leadership, citing the Chinese government’s frequent portrayal of Tibet as a “socialist paradise.” Sikyong suggested that a first-hand visit would be an appropriate way to assess the reality behind such narratives.

Following the interview, Sikyong addressed members of the Tibetan community of New South Wales. He was accompanied by Representative Karma Singey and Chinese Liaison Officer Dawa Sangmo from the Tibet Information Office, along with Ngawang Choezin, President of the Tibetan Association of NSW.

In his public address, Sikyong underscored that the achievem...