Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has accused China of threatening Tibetan culture by allowing an increasing number of Chinese people to move into Tibet.

Dalai Lama: “These monastic institutions are very, very important for the preservation of the Tibetan culture. Now, a lot of restrictions on this… It’s actually some form of cultural genocide. These are intentionally. And monks and nuns — you see, now political sort of education, and also now, in recent years, they intensified.”

On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on China to hold talks with the Dalai Lama. Rudd made his comments during a meeting with President Bush in Washington.

Kevin Rudd: “I think it would be appropriate for the Chinese government to engage the Dalai Lama or his representatives in a formal set of discussions about future possibilities when it comes to internal arrangements within Tibet. We recognize China’s sovereignty over Tibet, but it is difficult, it’s complex, and it will certainly be matters which I will be raising when I visit China, myself, at the end of this visit abroad.”

President Bush spoke after the Australian Prime Minister.

President Bush: “My views on Tibet? I couldn’t have said it better. And that’s exactly what I told Hu Jintao a couple of days ago, that it’s in his country’s interest that he sit down again with representatives of the Dalai Lama — he, not personally, but have representatives do so — and that we urge restraint. And I appreciate the Prime Minister’s view and advice on dealing with this issue.”