Brown in "warm and constructive" meeting with Dalai Lama (Roundup)

May 23, 2008, 14:58 GMT

London - Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a 'warm and constructive' meeting with the Dalai Lama in London Friday during which he pledged to encourage reconciliation between China and the people of Tibet.

A spokesman for Brown said the 30-minute private talks also covered human rights issues in Tibet and the aftermath of the earthquake in China's Sichuan province.

'A range of other issues were discussed, including the importance of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese authorities and the Prime Minister's strong commitment to the human rights of the Tibetan people.'

Brown had expressed his determination to work with both sides to encourage reconciliation.

On the eve of the meeting, the Dalai Lama had criticized Britain and other Western nations for 'not doing enough' to support Tibet.

But he also said that he understood Speaking Thursday, the Dalai Lama said he realized that there were 'limitations' as to what the west, including the European Union and the US, could achieve vis-a-vis China over Tibet.

The meeting, the highlight of the Dalai Lama's 10-day tour of Britain, took place at the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, rather than in Downing Street, the seat of government.

Brown's aides have said the choice of venue was to underline the predominantly 'spiritual' - as opposed to 'political' - nature of the visit, but critics have accused him of 'kowtowing' to Beijing.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama made it clear that to him, the venue does not matter. 'For me - no differences...I always meet on the level we are human beings.'

A handful of demonstrators gathered outside Lambeth Palace, where the meeting was held, to show their support - and opposition - to the teachings and policies of the Dalai Lama.

Brown, who has been keen to forge closer economic ties with Beijing, said in March that he was 'unhappy' about the Chinese clampdown on demonstrators in Tibet, but has otherwise been careful not to offend the Chinese leadership.