WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (AFP) - US officials are calling on China to be more liberal in allowing visits to Tibet by official government delegations.

Congressman Frank Wolf, an influential member of the House of Representative's Foreign Relations Committee, complained this week that Beijing has officially permitted only three members of Congress to visit Tibet since 1959.

Wolf recently returned from the region, but said he was required to travel on an ordinary tourist visa.

The Virginia congressman also called on China to open talks with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader exiled in India since Beijing's crackdown on the province in 1959.

Wolf said Tibet was in danger of being "swallowed" by China, pointing to what he said was a pattern of mass arrests and brutal repression.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said the Clinton administration shares many of Wolf's concerns.

"It would be helpful and better if the Chinese government would allow more official travel to Tibet," said Rubin, adding that the US government is urging Beijing "to preserve Tibet's unique cultural, linguistic and religious freedoms."

Clinton administration officials said they are close to naming a special coordinator for Tibetan issues.