Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

Dalai Lama: Meetings with Chinese were respectful

The Associated Press

BERLIN --

The Dalai Lama said Chinese officials were "respectful" in meetings last week, but large differences remained over the causes of the recent unrest in Tibet.

In an interview published Friday with the German weekly Der Spiegel, the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying that his representatives and Chinese officials agreed to hold a new round of formal talks "as soon as possible," following informal talks last weekend.

He added that a date would be fixed in the coming days.

"There were large differences over both the cause and the nature of the recent unrest in Tibet," he said, according to the report. But "despite the differing opinions, both sides showed a readiness to achieve an agreement on a common way of proceeding in dealing with the problems at issue in Tibet."

He added that "concrete proposals" were made by both sides that could serve as "a basis for the formal talks during the next round." He did not elaborate.

The Dalai Lama described the atmosphere at the talks as "pleasant ... the behavior of the other side not aggressive, but respectful."

Beijing has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama and his supporters of inciting the recent anti-government protests in Tibet - an allegation the spiritual leader denies.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet during a failed uprising in 1959, says he is seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from Chinese rule.