CANBERRA, Sept 18 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama appealed to Chinese journalists here Wednesday to tell Beijing that what he wants for Tibet is not independence, but voluntary union with China to help his country develop.

Tibet's spiritual leader-in-exile told the National Press Club that he had been accused by Tibetans of selling out his country because he believed Tibet could benefit from continuing association with China. What he sought was not independence but "genuine autonomy" in a demilitarised "zone of peace", he said in a lunchtime speech.

"The majority of Tibetan people, not only outside but inside, in deep heart want complete separation from China," he said.

But he said times had changed and Tibet was a landlocked and materially deprived country, "so therefore to develop our country more speedily and more satisfactorily, if we join with another big nation, it may get greater benefit.

"With these beliefs I am ready to join with the big nation voluntarily, provided the Chinese treat us as genuine brothers and sisters," said the spiritual leader who fled Tibet following an abortive uprising in 1959.

Irrespective of its political status, it was in the world's interests for Tibet to be restored to its historical role as a demilitarised buffer between China and India, he said.

The Dalai Lama, on the fourth day of a 15-day visit to Australia, also asked Australians and the international community to help achieve "meaningful negotiation" with the Chinese government.

Amid growing diplomatic tension between Australia and China over his visit, the 61-year-old Nobel laureate told reporters earlier that he was happy to hear Prime Minister John Howard intended to meet him after he returned from Asia on Saturday.

Howard's announcement, in Jakarta on Tuesday, provoked an immediate angry response by the Chinese foreign ministry which said that by meeting the Dalai Lama, foreign leaders were intervening in China's internal affairs.

"This will affect those countries' relations with China, and inevitably have an adverse impact on bilateral economic and trade relations," a ministry spokesman said.

The Dalai Lama, who was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful struggle to liberate Tibet, established the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, where he now lives.

He told the National Press Club that hard as he had tried over recent years to have meaningful dialogue with Beijing, there had been no serious response.

"From my part, in spite of setback, in spite of total lack of response from China, I am ready to discuss, to negotiate on the basis of my approach any time anywhere.

"Meantime, things are getting worse, so therefore there's no other choice except to appeal to the international community."

The Dalai Lama said he was sad that the Chinese news agency Xinhua had cancelled an appointment with him on his visit to Canberra and urged Chinese journalists attending the lunch to accurately portray his views to Beijing.

"I'm extremely happy to see Chinese journalists here, so please help us."