China’s top officials welcomed Dalai Lama’s envoys in Beijing on Sunday to hold talks regarding the Tibetan issue, authorities said.

On Sunday, the two sides took part at the opening session which will be followed by more meetings during the next few days according to Tenzin Takhla, the secretary to the Dalai Lama

China’s President Hu Jintao expressed his hopes that the outcome of the meetings will contribute to positive changes in the China-Tibet relationships.

"I am confident that through joint efforts by both sides, this visit will be able to achieve the expected results," Hu Jintao said during a news conference.

Tension escalated between the region of Tibet and the Chinese government after the Buddhist monks-led protests which started in March in Lhasa, the region’s capital, turned violent and ended with a police crackdown.

The protests of Lhasa were the biggest the region has witnessed over the past 20 years.

However, many experts said they believe that, much like the other six meetings between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government since 2002, this one won’t achieve much.

Experts believe the meeting is just a public relations exercise made by China in order to successfully host the Olympic Games, which open on August 8.  
The Chinese authorities have accused the Dalai Lama for being the mastermind behind the mass protests which started in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.

However, the Buddhist spiritual leader has firmly denied such allegations. The Dalai Lame who is and always has been a promoter of nonviolence has proven on many occasions that he is not “a wolf in monk's robes”, as the Chinese government has labeled him.

In fact, His Holiness said he supports holding the Olympics in Beijing and, when discussing with the radical Tibetans about the protests, the Dalai Lama said they shouldn’t consider obtaining Tibet independence, but instead should live together with the Chinese.