(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-04 23:26

SHENZHEN  -- Chinese central government officials and the private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama agreed to hold another round of contact and consultation at an appropriate time when they met on Sunday.

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The meeting, arranged at the repeated requests made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, was held between central government officials Zhu Weiqun and Sitar (who uses only one name) and the Dalai Lama's two private representatives Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen.

The two representatives arrived in this southern China city on Saturday.

During the meeting, Zhu and Sitar pointed out that the riot in Lhasa on March 14 had given rise to new obstacles for resuming contacts and consultations with the Dalai side.

However, the central government still arranged this meeting with great patience and sincerity, they said.

Earlier on Sunday, President Hu Jintao said in Beijing he hoped the Shenzhen meeting between central government officials and the Dalai Lama's private representatives could yield "positive results".

"Our policy toward the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent, and the door for dialogue remains open," Hu told journalists from 16 Japanese media organizations during an interview.

According to Zhu and Sitar, it was the hope of the central government that to create conditions for the next round of contact and consultation, the Dalai side would take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games, the sources said.

The officials said the Lhasa riot on March 14, which was against people's will, had jeopardized the fundamental interests of all the Chinese people including Tibetans and caused great public indignation and strong condemnation by people from various walks of life.

They said it was completely correct for the local government to take actions in accordance with the law to maintain social stability and to safeguard the country's legal system and the peoples essential interest.