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A second visit by delegates of the exiled Dalai Lama to China within months underscores a stunning shift after contacts spent a decade in a deep freeze. Even more revealing was the list of holy places they did not visit.

The Central Tibetan Administration is deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Lha Gyari Trichen Namgyal Gyatso, whose life embodies the spirit of dedication and commitment to the Tibetan Administration.

The Dalai Lama wants greater contact between his envoys and Chinese authorities to boost relations following the success of recent meetings, the exiled spiritual leader's representative said on Wednesday.

Echoing the need to keep politics separate from religion as that doctrined by the Constitution, the Legislature recently abolished a six-decade-old law empowering the government to regulate Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan.

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, was given a warm welcome Thursday as he arrived in Indian Kashmir's Buddhist-dominated Ladakh region, officials said.

China says communication lines with the Dalai Lama are open after visits by envoys of Tibet's exiled Buddhist spiritual leader, another sign of a thaw in relations that have been deadlocked for a decade.

China today ruled out any concessions to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama but hoped that the just-concluded visit to the country by his envoys would help him make the "correct choice" on the vexed Tibet issue.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama greets the audience at an award ceremony in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, June 11, 2003. On behalf of Sulabh International Dalai Lama presented 'Man of Letters' award to former Executive Director of World Bank Balmiki Prasad Singh, (not in the picture) for his writings and zeal to build a dynamic and responsive society in India. Photo by Ajit Kumar

HARD LIFE: Tibetan Buddhist monk, the Venerable Bagdro is preparing to speak in Geelong. The Venerable Bagdro was imprisoned and tortured. Photo: TONY KERRIGAN

Silenced, jailed and tortured for speaking out against the treatment of his people, the Venerable Bagdro, a Tibetan monk, could be forgiven for abandoning his religious crusade.