WASHINGTON, Apr 23, 1997 (USA Today) - Preparing to meet with President Clinton, the Dalai Lama expressed hope Wednesday for gaining Tibetan autonomy, saying he believes Chinese leaders are losing confidence in their totalitarian regime.

The Buddhist spiritual leader said communist repression of people and religion threaten to wipe out Tibetan culture, but he predicted the human rights abuses can't last amid undying democracy movements, dissent and international and internal pressure on China.

"The self-confidence among Chinese leaders is no longer there,'' the Dalai Lama said, comparing China Wednesday to past decades when leaders had "genuine conviction that their system could achieve some happy society.''

"I think the Chinese leadership themselves are in some sort of state of dilemma,'' the exiled leader said in a speech to the World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet, which was meeting for two days on Capitol Hill. "The People's Republic of China is in the process of changing.''

At the same time, he added, "The spirit of Tibet is strong. We are really determined. We never give up our hope.''

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who went into exile about a decade ago, has been accused by China of using religion as a cover for seeking full Tibetan independence. He insists he wants only self-rule for Tibet's 6 million people after nearly a half-century of Chinese occupation.

"We need self-determination to preserve our culture,'' he said.

The Dalai Lama was meeting with Vice President Al Gore at the White House Wednesday afternoon, and Clinton was planning to drop by - a diplomatic maneuver meant to honor the religious leader without upsetting China too much.

In a letter read at the parliamentarian meeting of 40 nations, Clinton welcomed the Dalai Lama to Washington, saying his "devotion to the Tibetan people and inspiring advocacy of nonviolence and dialogue have earned the world's lasting admiration.''

"We must continue to speak out whenever human rights are threatened or denied, and I am grateful for the continuing efforts of leaders like you, who have done so much to advance democracy, human dignity and religious freedom worldwide,'' the president wrote.

The Clinton administration said its talks with the Dalai Lama would focus on human rights and religious freedom, not politics.

"We see the Dalai Lama as obviously a person of high moral authority, someone who deserves the respect of many people around the world, and as a religious figure,'' State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said Tuesday. "I don't believe that the discussion will involve ... political issues.''

Clinton also dropped by to see the Dalai Lama with Gore in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Former President Bush also met at the White House with the exiled religious leader.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Thursday and also is meeting with members of Congress during his three-day stay.

In Beijing, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry objected mildly Tuesday to the meeting between Clinton and the Dalai Lama.

Washington will be "conniving with and supporting the Dalai Lama's activities to split the motherland,'' ministry spokesman Cui Tiankai said. "It will be interfering in China's affairs, and we resolutely oppose this.''

In the past, China has threatened economic sanctions against countries that accepted visits by the Dalai Lama.

By The Associated Press