Door to Tibet talks 'open'

Independence for Tibet autonomous region can never be considered, but the door remains open for talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice-minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting a group of overseas Chinese in Paris.

The remarks came after three rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives after the March 14 riots in Tibet that caused the loss of lives and economic damage.