For the first time in six decades, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) president Lobsang Sangay has entered the White House—a historic recognition by the United States to the democratically elected government-in-exile that is headquartered in this northern Indian hill station.

This is for the first time that the head of the CTA has been invited into the White House, a spokesperson said on Saturday. Last month, Sangay became the first CTA president to be formally invited into the US State Department to meet Assistant Secretary and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Robert Destro.