Dalai Lama envoys, China set to meet for talks
BEIJING - The Dalai Lama called Monday for "tangible progress" in upcoming talks with China, as international pressure mounted for the sides to ease tensions after anti-government riots that rocked Tibet.
Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, envoys who regularly represent the Tibetan spiritual leader in meetings with China's Communist leadership, arrived in Beijing on Monday evening.
They will begin two days of talks with their Chinese counterparts on Tuesday, said Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharmsala, India.
"This will be the continuation of the formal dialogue which started in 2002," he said.
The meetings follow informal talks held in early May in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen that ended with an offer from Beijing for future discussions.
"His holiness the Dalai Lama has instructed the envoys to make every effort to bring about tangible progress to alleviate the difficult situation for Tibetans in their homeland," a statement from the Dalai Lama's office said.
China said an invitation had been extended to the Dalai Lama, but gave no other details.
Some experts believe Beijing is agreeing to a fresh round of discussions to ease criticism ahead of the Olympic Games that begin Aug. 8 in the Chinese capital.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday he could attend the Aug. 8 opening of the Beijing Olympics if more progress in made in the talks. He had left open the possibility of boycotting the opening ceremony after China cracked down harshly on anti-government protests in Tibet earlier this year.
Sarkozy said he would make his decision known early next week.
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