China, Dalai Lama Continue Secret Talks

Secretive talks between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government entered a second day Wednesday, with the goal of easing tensions following anti-government riots in Tibet in March.

The self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile has said the two days of talks would be held in China's capital on Tuesday and Wednesday, but Chinese officials would not confirm any details such as where the meeting would be held or what the agenda was.

The Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharmsala, India, has said Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche was expected to comment only after the talks end.

Calls to the Propaganda Office of the United Front Work Department, a body within the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee which is hosting the talks, were not answered Wednesday.

The talks have particular importance in light of China's hopes of hosting a flawless Olympic Games. Some experts believe Beijing is agreeing to the discussions to ease criticism ahead of the Games, which begin Aug. 8 in the Chinese capital.

Some world leaders have said they might boycott the opening ceremony to protest the Chinese security crackdown in Tibetan areas of China after anti-government riots broke out in March. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said this week he would attend if the latest talks made progress.

The Dalai Lama is lauded in much of the world as a figure of moral authority, but Beijing demonizes the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and says he seeks to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet.

China has governed Tibet since communist troops marched into the Himalayan region in the 1950s. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid a failed uprising in 1959, has said he wants some form of autonomy that would allow Tibetans to freely practice their culture, language and religion.

The meetings this week follow informal talks held in early May in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen that ended with an offer from Beijing for future discussions.

China has been accused of using heavy-handed tactics in quelling the anti-government riots and protests in Tibet. Beijing says 22 people died in the violence in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, while foreign Tibet supporters say many times that number were killed in the protests and a subsequent government crackdown.