China first met envoys of the exiled spiritual leader it brands a separatist in 1979, two decades after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
After about 15 trips, talks were suspended in 1994 due to lack of progress. Contact then lapsed until negotiations were quietly revived in 2002.
Here are some details on the two sides' post-2002 informal dialogue on the future of the Himalayan region:
* Sept 9-24, 2002: Two Dalai Lama envoys make landmark 16-day trip to China.
Analysts say quiet resumption of talks marks slight softening in Beijing's position. Beijing plays down trip as a private visit, saying its policy on the Dalai Lama is unchanged.
* May 23-June 8, 2003: Four-member team led by Special Envoy Lodi Gyari makes two-week visit to Shanghai, Beijing and parts of Tibet.
A spokesman for the exiled spiritual leader says 'confidence-building' talks helped clear some misunderstandings.
* Sept 12-29, 2004: Lodi Gyari and three colleagues make secretive third trip to China.
Lodi Gyari describes third round of talks as 'the most extensive and serious exchange of views' to date.
* June 30-July 1, 2005: Chinese officials and Dalai Lama delegation led by Lodi Gyari meet at the Chinese embassy in Berne, Switzerland, for two days of secret talks.
Chinese officials later confirm they met overseas Tibetans, but do not publicly recognise that any dialogue process exists.
* Feb 15-23, 2006: Fifth round of talks in Guilin, Guangxi province, ends with no concrete results. Dalai Lama envoys say talks highlight fundamental differences between the two.
Chinese officials later say the envoys raised demands on Tibetan autonomy and on the region's borders which China cannot accept.
* June 29-July 5, 2007: Two Tibetan envoys say talks are at a crucial stage, but both sides still disagree strongly on several issues. - REUTERS