Xi Jinping reviews situation in Tibet amid self-immolation protests

About 106 such immolations have been reported so far.

China8217;s new leader Xi Jinping has reviewed the situation in troubled Tibet,amid expectations that the new leadership may consider fresh initiatives to end self-immolation protests in the remote Himalayan region.

Xi,59,the new General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China CPC who is set to take over as President next week formally ending the decade-long tenure of Hu Jintao,met the Tibetan delegation attending the annual legislature at the National People8217;s Congress NPC,China8217;s parliament.

While the official media highlighted presentation of letters of 108 monks wishing Xi good luck as he set out for a ten-year term,the meeting the first since he took over as new leader,reportedly discussed political and administrative measures to end the self-immolations which overseas Tibetan groups say are aimed at protesting Chinese rule and call for return of the Dalai Lama from exile in India.

About 106 such immolations have been reported so far.

Chinese authorities launched a crackdown against the people inciting the immolations and blamed the 8220;Tibetan government-in-exile8221; for orchestrating the suicide campaign.

Ahead of Xi8217;s take over,Dalai Lama has expressed hope that Xi whose reformist father Xi Zhongxun,he knew before fleeing Tibet for self-exile to Dharmasala,would initiate steps to ease the situation in Tibet and its prefectures.

There were back channel talks between the Chinese government and Dalai Lama representatives in the past which were halted for over a year as they made little headway.

Analysts say that there is likelihood that the talks would be resumed later this year.

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Last August,Xu Zhitao,an official of the CPC8217;s powerful policy body had said there won8217;t be any negotiations with Dalai Lama representatives at least until the end of the year.

He said in response to Dalai Lama8217;s comments of seeing some encouraging signs about shifting of attitudes of China towards Tibet.

8220;China will continue to be flexible with Dalai Lama but it seems that no result will come out if he does not change his attitude toward some fundamental issues,8221; he said.

The central government has insisted that the Dalai Lama or his 8220;Tibet government-in-exile8221; cannot represent the Tibetan people.

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There can only be discussions on how the Dalai Lama should 8220;stop his separatist speeches and win the trust of the central government as well as the forgiveness of the Chinese people,8221; Xu said.

It is to be seen whether any new initiatives would come up in the next few months to address the situation in Tibet.