Beijing meets with Dalai Lama representatives

Envoys of the Dalai Lama began two days of meetings with Chinese officials on Tuesday, AP reported. The time, place and agenda of the talks were not provided. Ahead of the meetings, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters that the Dalai Lama’s side must implement the three "stops" – stop separatist activities, stop sabotaging the Olympics and stop violence. The meetings come after earlier, informal talks in Shenzhen in May produced an offer by Beijing to continue negotiations. The talks are being seen in some circles as an attempt by China to address international criticism over its handling of riots in Lhasa in March, which killed 22 people. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the meetings were an internal matter.