Parliament Member Olav Gunnar Ballo, a member of justice committee, had been asked by his colleagues to host the luncheon and it was agreed
from both sides few weeks before the visit took place.

Mr Ballo, however, was elected recently the new chairman of the Norwegian Tibet Committee at their general meeting on 28 March and Chinese authorities demanded that the Norwegian Parliament found another host for the luncheon. The Chinese said they would not attend the luncheon otherwise, so the parliament cancelled it.

The Norwegian Tibet Committee is pleased that the Norwegian Parliament did not let itself be dictated by Chinese authorities.

Mr Olav Gunner Ballo was head of the Parliament delegation to Tibet and China in November 2008. He is also the leader of all party parliamentarian group for Tibet.