Tibet/China

Dalai Lama welcomes Chinese talks offer

Article published on the 2008-04-25 Latest update 2008-04-25 14:46 TU

The Dalai Lama (l) and Chinese President Hu Jintao
(Photos : AFP/Reuters)

The Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, has welcomed a Chinese government offer to meet one of his representatives. It would be the first encounter since last month's riots and protests in Tibet and China. The US and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are among world leaders who have welcomed the offer.

Print the article

Send the article

Comments on article

Sarkozy called the Chinese move a "major step", the White House declared itself pleased and European Commission president José Manuel Barroso, who is visiting Beijing, said that he is "very happy" with the announcement.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama's supporters of wanting an independent Tibet and instigating last month's violence, in which it claims 20 people died, most of them not Tibetans. The Buddhist leader says he just wants autonomy, while the Tibetan government-in-exile says 150, mainly Tibetans, were killed.

Pressure has built up on the Chinese government, with protests as the Olympic torch heads for the Beijing Games and condemnation by other governments, including Sarkozy's declaration that he was considering boycotting the opening ceremony.

"It is hoped that through contact and consultation, the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks," according to a Chinese official quoted by state-run new agency Xinhua.

Beijing-based journalist Richard MacGregor points out that these wouldn't be the first such talks.