On October 19, 2000, the 14th Dalai Lama visits Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of his participation in the World Community for World Peace conference. During this trip, he meets with John Hume, Northern Ireland’s veteran politician and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Hume, a key architect of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, is widely respected for his unwavering commitment to dialogue and negotiations in resolving the long-running conflict in Northern Ireland. The Dalai Lama, also a Nobel laureate, praises Hume’s deep conviction in the power of peaceful resolution, noting that his leadership and persistence were instrumental in achieving the historic peace agreement.

The meeting takes place at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, a central venue for political and cultural events in Northern Ireland. The Dalai Lama’s visit is part of a three-day stay in the city, underscoring the shared values of peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation between the two leaders.

This encounter reflects the mutual respect between Hume and the Dalai Lama, both of whom have dedicated their lives to resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than violence.