New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday said that people from Tibet have been seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue with China since 1974, but Beijing considers him a “splittist” though he isn’t one.

The Tibetan spiritual leader also said that the Tibetans are “open” to such a solution, while reiterating that he was not seeking Tibet’s independence from China.

He said he preferred Tibet remaining with China, with “some kind of a reunion.”

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that both sides can mutually benefit from each other by harnessing their old links. While China can help Tibet economically, Tibet can offer its knowledge to China, he said.

The Dalai Lama also said that he admired the “spirit of the European Union.”

“France and Germany were arch-enemies during World War II. But after the war, common interests were put above individual interests. The creation of the EU was wonderful,” he said.

The Dalai Lama also praised New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for taking a compassionate approach in dealing with the aftermath of the recent terror attack in her country and said that the 21st century should be the century of peace and non-violence.

He said that New Zealand serves as a “living example” for others, as to how to respond with calmness and compassion in the wake of such incidents. New Zealand is one example where a country’s leader tried to deal with a “very sad situation” through compassion, he said when asked about the incidents of violence stemming from hatred in the last few years in many countries.

“She (the New Zealand PM) tried to tackle the problem through non-violence, compassion, and respect for others. So, there are methods (to deal with violence). Although what happened was a very sad incident, there was no further increase in violence,” the Dalai Lama told reporters.

At least 50 people were killed and several others wounded in a hate-filled terror attack by a shooter, targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in March. The attack sparked global outrage, drawing condemnation from leaders and institutions around the world.

After the attack, Ms Ardern’s humane approach in consoling a grieving nation and dealing with its aftermath, including meeting the Muslim community members, was widely praised.

“We saw so much violence in the 20th century, two world wars, and so we must deal with our problems now with dialogues and non-violent measures. Through peace we can achieve it,” he added.