Nepal cancels Tibetan studies conference after Chinese ambassador's concerns

A big group of scholars planned to meet in a city called Kathmandu, in Nepal, to talk about the history and culture of a place called Tibet.

About 720 experts from 39 countries were going to come to this special meeting.

But a leader from China, the ambassador, went to Nepal's government and said he was worried.

He was worried that some people at the meeting might say things that were not nice about China or support Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Nepal's government then told the university that had planned the meeting to cancel it.

China did not send an angry letter or order Nepal to cancel the meeting.

But Nepal canceled it anyway, because it depends on China for money and investments, and it sits between two big countries.

Many people think scholars should be free to study and talk about any topic.

Now the university that spent almost four years planning the meeting has given up, and the meeting may not happen anywhere.

This might make other countries worried about hosting similar meetings.