Published by World Tibet Network News - Tuesday, March 25, 1997

TAIPEI, March 24 (AFP) - The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, talked with the Taiwanese interior minister over lunch on Monday, the highest ranking government official he has met so far on the island.

"We merely exchanged some nice words," the Dalai Lama replied at a press conference when asked whether he and Taiwanese Interior Minister Lin Feng-cheng had discussed the setting up of a representative office in Taiwan.

The Dalai Lama arrived in Taiwan on Saturday for his first trip to the nationalist island, but the government has so far adopted a low-key approach to the visit and he has not been accorded the honours usually given to state guests.

The Dalai Lama recalled at the press conference, however, that the proposal to open a "small office" in Taiwan for the cultural exchanges was raised for the first time about two years ago.

Gyalo Thondup, the second brother of the Dalai Lama, told the press here March 19 that the Tibetan government in exile in India would like to set up an office in Taiwan.

The Dalai Lama is to meet with Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui Thursday morning in the government's official Taipei Guest House, according to the presidential office.