STRASBOURG, France, Oct 23 (Reuter) - The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled Buddhist spiritual leader, met European Parliament officials on Wednesday proposing autonomy for his homeland and stirred angry Chinese criticism of the EU.

The Dalai Lama's comments to EU officials were restrained, dismissing any notion of economic sanctions against China over its rule in Tibet. But his offer to discuss terms for Tibetan autonomy was certain to irritate Beijing.

"I am ready to negotiate without pre-conditions as soon as the Chinese government makes a gesture," the Dalai Lama said at the start of a three-day visit as guest of the European Parliament.

China's official Xinhua news agency, monitored in London, quoted a spokesman for the Chinese mission to the European Union as condemning the Dalai Lama's visit.

He said meetings between deputies and the Dalai Lama constituted "a serious violation of Chinese sovereignty and crude interference in China's internal affairs."

It said he called on the European Parliament and the European Commission to "take the interests of the whole into account to avoid causing any undue harm to China-EU relations."

"Tibet is an integral part of China and no other nation, organisation or individual should interfere with the internal affairs of China," Xinhua quoted the spokesman as saying.

During a meeting with members of the Parliament's foreign affairs committee, the Dalai Lama said it would be wrong to try to isolate China.

"China must join the world economy," he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Parliament.

He said economic pressure did not work in forcing change.

But he added the Chinese must be given the democratic and human rights message and it was important to mobilise world public opinion, especially European, for this purpose.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule and won the Nobel Peace Prize 30 years later for his peaceful autonomy campaign.

China has been accused of widespread human rights abuses since its troops invaded the country. Beijing denies the charges.