The United States on Wednesday called any potential dialogue on Tibet between China and the Dalai Lama “very positive.” State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the United States would “certainly encourage and call on the Chinese to engage directly in discussions with the Dalai Lama or his representatives.” Asked about suggestions from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that Beijing would meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader if certain conditions were met, Casey replied, “it would be a very positive thing if they chose to do so.” Brown, who visited China and January and seeks to improve Britain's strategic ties with the Asian giant, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had assured him he was willing to hold talks with the Dalai Lama if the spiritual leader rejected the use of violence and abandoned seeking total independence for Tibet.
