The office of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama says top delegates of the Tibetan government in exile will meet in Beijing Tuesday with Chinese officials to discuss autonomy for the Himalayan region.
A statement released Monday said special envoy Lodi G. Gyari and envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, will be accompanied by three other Tibetan officials Tenzin P. Atisha, Bhuchung K. Tsering and Jigmey Passang.
"At a two day meeting of the Tibetan Task Force in Dharamsala chaired by Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Tibetan delegation finalised their preparations for the discussions in Beijing. On January 22, 2010 the Kalon Tripa and the two Envoys briefed His Holiness the Dalai Lama and sought his guidance. " said in a statement on Monday.
The talks will be the ninth round of dialogue, after a gap of 15 months in the process that began in 2002.
China's approach to Tibet includes investment in the region's economy while countering strong support for the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
China has condemned every government that has permitted the Dalai Lama to visit.
Officials in Beijing have accused the Buddhist monk of inciting separatist rebellion in Tibet. The Dalai Lama says he is advocating Tibet's cultural autonomy within China.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, Tibet.net and Reuters.