Representatives of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, are in southern China to meet government officials.
It is the first time the two sides have met since violent anti-Chinese protests erupted in Tibet in March.
They are due to meet in the southern city of Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong.
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It accuses the Dalai Lama and his supporters of fomenting the violence with the aim of splitting China, and trying to wreck the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
For its part, the Dalai Lama's delegation, led by one of his senior aides, Chhime Chhoekyapa, has played down any expectations of a breakthrough, saying there could be no serious discussions over basic issues because of the present situation in Tibet.
The Tibetan envoys "will convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama's deep concerns about the Chinese authorities' handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region," a statement from the Dalai Lama's office in Dharamsala, India, said.
Western governments have been pressing China to renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
The two sides have met several times since 2002, but without any concrete result.
There has been no official comment from China about the talks.
Autonomy demands
Anti-China protests led by Buddhist monks began in Lhasa on 10 March and gradually escalated into rioting.
China says at least 19 people were killed by the rioters - but Tibetan exiles say that nearly 100 were killed by the Chinese security forces as they moved to quell the unrest.
The unrest was the worst in the region in 20 years.
After the riots, pro-Tibetan protesters threw China's global Olympic torch relay into disarray as it passed through several cities, including London, Paris and San Francisco.
The Dalai Lama has repeated his position that he wants increased autonomy for Tibet within China, not independence.
He and the Tibetan government-in-exile have been based in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959.
(BBC)
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