China Will Meet With Dalai Lama Aide

Beijing officials will meet in the next few days with a representative of the Dalai Lama, reports AFP, quoting Chinese media. The meeting would be the first encounter between the Tibetan leadership and members of the Chinese government since last month's unrest in Tibet. China has come under intense foreign pressure to open talks with the Dalai Lama, particularly in the wake of protests in the run up to the Beijing Olympics.

"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days," said state news agency Xinhua. Chinese authorities hope the promise of talks will convince  the "Dalai side" to "take credible moves to stop plotting and inciting violence, and stop sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games," an official told Xinhua. (More China stories.)