ATLANTA, Sept 5 (Reuter) - The Dalai Lama called for closer relations between China and the United States on Tuesday as he criticised the Chinese government for its 30 years of rule in Tibet.

"The Tibet cause is a just cause," the exiled spiritual leader said during the first public address of his 11-day U.S. visit. "Please help us to bring the Chinese government to the negotiating table."

The Dalai Lama said he came to the U.S. because of the present "difficult" state of U.S.-Chinese relations. He called for "better relations, closer relations ... so you can have a more useful exchange."

The Nobel Peace Prize winner made no reference to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women which opened in Beijing on Monday.

"The Tibetans' freedom struggle is not based on a narrow- minded nationalistic view," the Dalai Lama told about 4,200 people during his 50-minute address at Emory University. "We are committed fully to a non-violent freedom struggle."

Actor Richard Gere spoke briefly and cited Tibetans' "ability to forgive" as a reason to help them preserve their culture.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to be in the U.S. through September 14, with stops in Houston, Boston, and Washington, D.C.