STRASBOURG, France Oct 23 (AP) -- The Dalai Lama accused China on Wednesday of "cultural genocide" in Tibet, but reasserted his desire to negotiate with China over the region's future.

In an address to the European Parliament foreign affairs committee, the exiled spiritual leader said Tibetans are thwarted in expressing their own identity and the "mass influx of Chinese into Tibet amounts to cultural genocide."

China sent the army into Tibet in 1950 and maintains a tight grip over the region, but allegiance to the Dalai Lama and the goal of independence among Tibetans remains strong.

China claims Tibet has been its territory for at least 700 years; Tibetans say they were independent for much of that time.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, said even though repression is increasing, "I remain committed to negotiation with China."

He said he would consider a political compromise for Tibet that stops short of full independence.

"It is not impossible that the 6 million Tibetans could benefit from joining the 1 billion Chinese of their own free will, if a relationship based on equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect could be established," he said.

The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed Tibetan uprising.