The two-day talks aim to ease tensions which peaked in March during violent Tibetan protests against Chinese rule.

That unrest led to increased calls on China to engage in substantive talks with Tibet's Buddhist spiritual leader.

The Dalai Lama has denied Chinese allegations that he masterminded the March protests, during which a number of people died.

China says rioters killed at least 19 people in the unrest, but Tibetan exiles say security forces killed dozens of people.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The 1-2 July meetings, which follow informal talks held on 4 May, had been scheduled for earlier this month, but were postponed due to China's devastating earthquake in May.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama has instructed the envoys to make every effort to bring about tangible progress to alleviate the difficult situation for Tibetans in their homeland," said Samdhong Rimpoche, the prime minister of the government-in-exile.

He was speaking from his base in the North Indian city of Dharamsala, which is also home to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan representatives have attended several such meetings with Chinese officials since 2002, with discussions reportedly focusing on the Dalai Lama's request for greater autonomy for Tibet.

BBC