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Dalai aides set for China meeting Dalai Lama aides open China talks
(about 8 hours later)
Representatives of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, are in southern China to meet government officials. Envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama have held their first talks with China since violent protests erupted in Tibet in March.
It is the first time the two sides have met since violent anti-Chinese protests erupted in Tibet in March. Chinese President Hu Jintao has said he hopes the talks, in Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong, will have a positive outcome.
They are due to meet in the southern city of Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong. Chinese media have continued to accuse the "Dalai clique" of trying to wreck the Beijing Olympics this summer.
The official Chinese media has continued its attacks on what it calls the "Dalai clique". A Dalai Lama spokesman said he feared China saw the talks as a "PR exercise".
It accuses the Dalai Lama and his supporters of fomenting the violence with the aim of splitting China, and trying to wreck the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
But, by contrast, Japanese media quoted Chinese President Hu Jintao as saying he hoped the talks would achieve "positive results".
For its part, the Dalai Lama's delegation, led by one of his senior aides, Chhime Chhoekyapa, has played down any expectations of a breakthrough, saying there could be no serious discussions over basic issues because of the present situation in Tibet.
The Tibetan envoys "will convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama's deep concerns about the Chinese authorities' handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region," a statement from the Dalai Lama's office in Dharamsala, India, said.
Western governments have been pressing China to renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama.Western governments have been pressing China to renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
The two sides have met several times since 2002, but without any concrete result. The two sides have met several times since 2002, but without any concrete results.
There has been no official comment from China about the 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7299221.stm">Q&A: Tibet and China class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7305288.stm">Key events in Tibet unrest
The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile have been based in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, nine years after China sent troops into the region to enforce a territorial claim.
Autonomy demandsAutonomy demands
Tenzin Taklha, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama, told the BBC the talks were a chance to explore a solution to the dispute over Tibet.
"We see this as an opportunity to meet the Chinese, to express our concerns about the ongoing repression, and to make some suggestions about how to address the grievances of the Tibetan people," he said.
"At the same time, we also have to consider that this could be a whole PR exercise for the Chinese, and that they want to show the world that they are engaged with His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] but they don't intend to actually address the issue seriously."
Tenzin Taklha also denied the Dalai Lama had sought to foment unrest.
"He's the last person who's going to want to instigate violence and he's been supportive of the Olympics," he said.
Anti-China protests led by Buddhist monks began in Lhasa on 10 March and gradually escalated into rioting.Anti-China protests led by Buddhist monks began in Lhasa on 10 March and gradually escalated into rioting.
China says at least 19 people were killed by the rioters - but Tibetan exiles say that nearly 100 were killed by the Chinese security forces as they moved to quell the unrest.China says at least 19 people were killed by the rioters - but Tibetan exiles say that nearly 100 were killed by the Chinese security forces as they moved to quell the unrest.
The unrest was the worst in the region in 20 years.The unrest was the worst in the region in 20 years.
After the riots, pro-Tibetan protesters threw China's global Olympic torch relay into disarray as it passed through several cities, including London, Paris and San Francisco.After the riots, pro-Tibetan protesters threw China's global Olympic torch relay into disarray as it passed through several cities, including London, Paris and San Francisco.
The Dalai Lama has repeated his position that he wants increased autonomy for Tibet within China, not independence.The Dalai Lama has repeated his position that he wants increased autonomy for Tibet within China, not independence.
He and the Tibetan government-in-exile have been based in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959.