This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7366500.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Beijing 'to talk to Dalai aides' | Beijing 'to talk to Dalai aides' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Chinese officials will hold talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives, state media say, in the first meeting since rioting broke out in Tibet last month. | Chinese officials will hold talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives, state media say, in the first meeting since rioting broke out in Tibet last month. |
Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying a meeting would take place "in coming days". | Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying a meeting would take place "in coming days". |
A spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader welcomed the offer of talks. | A spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader welcomed the offer of talks. |
Beijing has consistently blamed what it termed a "Dalai clique" for fomenting unrest in Tibetan areas of China - an allegation he has strenuously denied. | Beijing has consistently blamed what it termed a "Dalai clique" for fomenting unrest in Tibetan areas of China - an allegation he has strenuously denied. |
The Dalai Lama insists he has no political role and played no part in the protests. | The Dalai Lama insists he has no political role and played no part in the protests. |
Olympics demand | Olympics demand |
Xinhua quoted an unnamed official as saying the government had taken into account "requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks". | Xinhua quoted an unnamed official as saying the government had taken into account "requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks". |
"The relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days," the official said. | "The relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days," the official said. |
Dalai Lama on why he is against an Olympics' boycott | |
But the official added that the Dalai Lama would need to "take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China". | |
This included putting a stop to "plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks". | This included putting a stop to "plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks". |
The Dalai Lama's spokesman, Tenzin Takla, told the BBC he had received no official notification from the Chinese government of its desire to meet. | The Dalai Lama's spokesman, Tenzin Takla, told the BBC he had received no official notification from the Chinese government of its desire to meet. |
China has held talks with the Dali Lama's representatives before, though meetings have rarely resulted in any progress. | China has held talks with the Dali Lama's representatives before, though meetings have rarely resulted in any progress. |
According to Mr Takla, the last round was held in June and July last year in Beijing. | According to Mr Takla, the last round was held in June and July last year in Beijing. |
He added that the Dalai Lama had been "making efforts to reach out to the Chinese people and the Chinese leadership" since last month's protests. | He added that the Dalai Lama had been "making efforts to reach out to the Chinese people and the Chinese leadership" since last month's protests. |
'Room for dialogue' | |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country has been targeted by nationalist Chinese protesters angered by pro-Tibet rallies in Paris, welcomed the prospect of talks. TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Q&A: Tibet and China Key events in Tibet unrest | |
"The resumption of dialogue carries some real hope," he said in a statement. | "The resumption of dialogue carries some real hope," he said in a statement. |
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Beijing hailed the announcement as a "very positive development". | Meanwhile, the US embassy in Beijing hailed the announcement as a "very positive development". |
And EU commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso, who earlier discussed Tibet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, said he was "very happy". | And EU commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso, who earlier discussed Tibet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, said he was "very happy". |
"If the concern of the Dalai Lama is... respect of cultural identity, religious identity and autonomy inside China, I believe there's real room for a dialogue," he said. | "If the concern of the Dalai Lama is... respect of cultural identity, religious identity and autonomy inside China, I believe there's real room for a dialogue," he said. |
Rallies began in the main Tibetan city of Lhasa on 10 March, led by Buddhist monks. | Rallies began in the main Tibetan city of Lhasa on 10 March, led by Buddhist monks. |
Over the following week protests spread and became violent - particularly in Lhasa where ethnic Chinese were targeted and shops were burnt down. | Over the following week protests spread and became violent - particularly in Lhasa where ethnic Chinese were targeted and shops were burnt down. |
Beijing cracked down on the protesters with force, sending in hundreds of troops to regain control of the restive areas. | Beijing cracked down on the protesters with force, sending in hundreds of troops to regain control of the restive areas. |
Do you support this Chinese move? What can the talks achieve? Are you in China or a Tibetan in exile? Send your comments using the form below | Do you support this Chinese move? What can the talks achieve? Are you in China or a Tibetan in exile? Send your comments using the form below |