Provisions given for Dalai Lama visit

The Dalai Lama may be given permission to visit China provided he has "completely abandoned" the idea of Tibetan independence, the director of the State Bureau of Religious Affairs, Ye Xiaowen, told state media. Despite the Dalia Lama endorsing a "middle way" under which Tibet has greater autonomy but no independence, he had "failed to deliver a clear message on his stance", Ye said. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against communist rule, said last month that he wanted to visit Buddhist landmarks in China. Ye also said that relations could be built with the Vatican as long as the Holy See severed ties with Taiwan and stopped criticising China's domestic affairs.