Taipei  - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said Friday that he hopes to visit Taiwan in 2009, in what would be his first visit in seven years and an apparent reversal of a policy of avoiding the island for fear of angering China.

"Taiwan-China ties are developing smoothly, so maybe this is a good time, the Dalai Lama told Elta TV in the northern Indian city of Dharamsala. "I haven't visited Taiwan for several years, but I have never forgotten Taiwan."

The Dalai Lama praised Taiwan's democracy in the televised interview.

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is considering appointing a regent to lead the Tibetan movement after his death.

According to a newspaper report, the idea was discussed this week at an unprecedented meeting of 600 Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala.

Dalai Lama is now 73 and has been suffering from ill health. So he intends to ensure a smooth succession after his death.

The most likely candidate for the regency is the 23-year-old Karmapa Lama, the third highest in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, who was born and raised in Tibet but escaped to India in 2000.

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Nov. 24: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is considering appointing a regent to lead the Tibetan movement after his death until his reincarnation is old enough to take over.

According to The Times, the idea was discussed this week at an unprecedented meeting of 600 Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala, the seat if the exiled Tibetan Government.

It is the latest proposal intended to ensure a smooth succession after the death of the Dalai Lama, who is 73 and has been suffering recently from ill health.

Dharamshala, Nov 23 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that he is not planning to retire, quashing speculation about the future of the
73-year-old leader.

Speculation had been growing that the Nobel Prize winner, who fled into exile in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising in Tibet, will have to play a less forceful political role in future, especially if his health begins to fail.

While addressing a news conference on Sunday at Dharamsala, seat of Tibetan government in exile, in Himachal Pradesh, after a meeting of hundreds of Tibetans this week, Dalai Lama said, till his death he is committed to the Tibetan cause.

Dharamsala, Nov 23 : Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama expressed hope of returning to homeland Tibet.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday at Dharamsala, seat of Tibetan government-in-exile, in Himachal Pradesh, Dalai Lama said, he had strong faith of returning to Tibet one day.

“I have strong faith, one day we can return to our own land,” said Dalai Lama.

Dalai Lama''s statement comes a day after a meeting of hundreds of Tibetans this week, to chart a course after eight rounds of official talks.

The meeting also reaffirmed the Tibetan people''s faith and allegiance in the Dalai Lama.

New Delhi - Tibetan exiles ended a crucial meeting on their future in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala Saturday, agreeing to take a firmer stand in dealings with China, delegates said.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called the special meeting after admitting in October that his "middle way" policy of securing greater autonomy for Tibetans within China had failed.

More than 600 Tibetan exiles attended the week-long meeting which saw intense discussions on whether there should be a shift of policy to advocate independence, a move which many of the younger generation advocated.