Dalai Lama cautious over China talks

China has agreed to meet an envoy of the Dalai Lama following rising calls for talks in the wake of Tibetans’ anti-government protests, which threaten to tarnish this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games.

The statement repeated long-established preconditions for negotiations, including that the Dalai Lama unambiguously recognise Tibet as a part of China - a situation that could forestall any immediate breakthroughs.

Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile, said the Dalai Lama was always open to discussions.

But he cautioned that “the present circumstances in Tibet do not appear to be an appropriate platform for a meaningful dialogue”.