TOKYO, Sept 25 (AFP) - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, wants to visit Taiwan and talks are underway with authorities there but no date has been set, his representative for east Asia said Wednesday.

"His Holiness very much wishes to visit Taiwan. Such a visit would be historical and there is an enormous enthusiasm on the part of the Taiwan Buddhists," Karma Yuthok said from his office in Tokyo.

"We understand that thousands and thousands of Buddhists in Taiwan are just waiting for him to come. So it would be great event."

The Dalai Lama's representative added there was a standing invitation from Taiwan for the Dalai Lama to visit the island and that talks are underway to arrange such a visit, but "political hindrances are still blocking it," he said.

The Tibetan government-in-exile is ready to put aside the political aspects in order to arrange a visit which would be entirely devoted to cultural and religious matters, he said.

The Dalai Lama has never visited Taiwan. Taiwan's Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission has insisted on a pledge by the Dalai Lama that Tibet is part of China prior to his visit, a request the Tibetan side has rejected, informed sources said.

Quoted by Taiwan's Central News Agency in Canberra last week, the Dalai Lama said a visit to Taiwan was a "great desire."

Currently visiting Australia, the Dalai Lama is set to meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday, despite warnings from China that such a meeting would "cast a shadow" over Sino-Australian ties.