By BILL PERRY

SYDNEY, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- The dalai lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, called Monday for regional autonomy for his country, saying Tibetan- Chinese culture was threatened with extinction under China's repressive rule.

Analysts said the dalai lama's comments, carried Monday over the government-funded Australich strongly objected to his Australian visit.

The dalai lama said he asked Foign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer during their "unofficial" meeting Saturday to press Beijing to negotiate over the Tibetan issue.

"I am appealing to the international community with a similar request," he said.

He said his main concern was the preservation of Tibetan-Buddhist culture, which he said "intentionally or unintentionally" was "facing extinction".

With Chinese settlers in Tibet already outnumbering his country's 6 million Tibetans, "time is running out," he said."We need a political solution," he said. The best way to solve t that meant genuine compromise to bring regional autonomy for Tibet, he said.

he Chinese government is concerned about stability...genuine stability can develop throuart...through the mind...not under the gun," he said.

"So if yChinese in their owy.

"If there are any positive indications from the Chinese government, I am ready to negotiate without any preconditions, any time, any place," the dalai lama said.

Beijing has warned Australia that any official receptions for the dalai lama would harm relations between the two countries and accused the spiritual leader of trying to spit China.

Downer risked a backlash when he ignored the warnings and greeted the dalai lama behind closed doors in a Sydney airport hotel late Saturday.

But Downer insisted he and his wife Nicky were meeting the dali lama in his capacity as a spiet in 1950 claiming historic links. The dalai lama fl,s next diplomatic hn Howard agrees to meet him, analysts said.

Howard, who left Australia foesia and Japan on Monday his first Avy and the dala 14th dalai lama was scheduled to also address business groups and preside ove9-day religious initiating ceremony at the Sydney Showgrounds.

Australia, wa population of 18 million, has an estimated 140,000 Buddhiststh largest and fastest growing religion, according to official figur