China's central government maintains regular contact with the Dalai Lama and will not close the door of communications on him, according to Qiangba Punco, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government.

Speaking during the 10th National People's Congress annual plenary session in Beijing that concluded yesterday, he expressed the hope that the Dalai Lama would take stock of the current situation and "do things beneficial to the Tibetan people".

For many years, the central government has made an effort to facilitate negotiations, Qiangba Punco told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"But the talks have not achieved anything. This has to do with the Dalai Lama and his failure to recognize the situation.

"If the West really cares for the Dalai Lama, they should persuade him to size up the situation, drop any fancy ideas he might have and do things to benefit the Tibetan people."

The late Deng Xiaoping met with an emissary of the Dalai Lama in 1979, the first time since the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. During this meeting, Deng pointed out that the fundamental problem was that Tibet is a part of China. This is of universal application.

Other emissaries have been allowed to return for further discussions since then. "The second eldest brother of the Dalai Lama himself has returned to China more than ten times.

"Judging from the communication between the central government and the Dalai Lama, it is obvious that although the Dalai Lama has changed his tactics, he has not changed his "Tibet independence" stance and his efforts to split the motherland.

"Tibet has achieved a stable social order and remarkable economic growth over the past 17 years and the Tibetan people enjoy a peaceful and happy life, which is hard-earned.

"Social turmoil is a 'hazard' and stability is a 'blessing'. This is what the Tibetan people understand."

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2006)