China says it will meet Dalai Lama representatives

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: IHT

BEIJING: Chinese officials will meet representatives of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism whom China blames for a wave of unrest, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, citing official sources.

The move marks a change in tactics on the part of Beijing, which has stepped up its vilification of the Dalai Lama since anti-government protests hit Tibet and rippled across ethnic Tibetan parts of China in the past weeks.

"In view of the 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," Xinhua quoted an official as saying.

A spokesman for the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, said he had not received any communication from China about a meeting and China's Foreign Ministry said it had no details.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/04/25/europe/OUKWD-UK-CHINA-TIBET.php

[David__77]

1. A positive move by China.

Hopefully both sides will be constructive and refrain from grandstanding associated with such meetings.