TAIPEI, Oct 31 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama's first representative to Taiwan is expected to arrive here next month to handle bilateral relations, a report said Friday.

Kelsang Takla, who had been in charge of the London office of the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leadership, is expected to head up the Dalai Lama Tibetan Religious and Cultural Foundation, the de facto representative office which is to open next month in Taipei, the China Times Express said.

The report said the exiled leader expects the foundation to maintain a low profile to avoid irking China, which accused Taiwan of conniving with Tibet in promoting independence during the Dalai Lama's visit to the nationalist island in March.

Chinese troops marched into Tibet in 1951, and eight years later brutally suppressed an uprising against Beijing rule, causing the Dalai Lama and his government to flee along with tens of thousands of his followers.