Dharamsala, Nov 20 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday refused to comment on the ongoing Tibetan meeting in Dharamsala, saying that it might become a hindrance in the free expression of Tibetans.

Hundreds of prominent members of the community in exile are attending a conclave in Dharamsala called by their spiritual leader to discuss the future of the Tibetan people and debate how to advance their cause.

New Delhi, Nov 20 : Independence for Tibet autonomous region can never be considered, but the door remains open for talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama, a senior Chinese government official has said.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice-minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting a group of overseas Chinese in Paris.

The remarks came after three rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama''s representatives after the March 14 riots in Tibet that caused the loss of lives and economic damage, the China Daily reported.

Central government officials and representatives of the Dalai Lama have held nine rounds of talks in total since 2002.

Dharamsala, Nov 16 : Envoys of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader in-exile said on Sunday that talks with China were a ''total failure'' and were unyielding.

The envoys held a news conference in Dharamsala the seat of the Tibetan government in exile after returning from the ninth round of talks with China since 2002 and the first since the Beijing Olympic Games.

New Delhi - Envoys for the Dalai Lama said Sunday that China made it clear in recent talks that it has no interest in a serious solution to the question of Tibet's status.

Speaking in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in- exile, the envoys said they were disappointed with the Chinese stance during the negotiations.

Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyari said that in the talks in early November, Chinese officials categorically rejected points in a memorandum from the Dalai Lama that called for more autonomy for Tibetans living in China. Calls for protection of the Tibetan language and culture were termed "secessionist," said Gyari.

Dharamsala, Nov 15 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Dharamsala, seat of Tibetan government-in-exile on Saturday ahead of special meet.

A meeting of Tibetan exiles is set to take place in Dharamsala beginning from November 17.

Dalai Lama, who was on week-long visit to Japan, will not participate in the six-day meeting.

The meeting, where Tibet''s political unrest and its future are to be discussed between those seeking autonomy and independence, could become a turning point as different factions compete for influence over the exile movement.

Dharamsala, Nov. 15 : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is said to be seeking fresh answers to questions about securing autonomy for all Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama shocked his followers last month when he said he had failed in his efforts to negotiate a “middle way” with China by asking for real autonomy, rather than independence.

“As far as I’m concerned, I have given up,” he said.

He also called for a six-day conference of 600 Tibetan exiles to discuss their movement’s future in the light of the violent anti-Chinese protests in Tibet this year.