The Tibetan government-in-exile said on Saturday that their “immediate concern” was for ending “repression” and lifting of all restrictions on Tibetans and they will raise it with the Chinese. However, Chinese officials involved in the parleys defended the crackdown saying it was “completely correct” for the local government to take actions in accordance with the law to maintain social stability and to safeguard the country’s legal system and the “peoples essential interest”.

The Dalai Lamas representatives expressed their views on “relevant matters” and said they would “report truthfully what had been discussed” at the meeting to the Dalai Lama, Xinhua quoted sources as saying.

Earlier, Chinese President Hu Jintao said he hoped for a “positive outcome” in the fence-mending talks, raising hopes of a breakthrough. “I hope the contacts will yield a positive outcome,” Hu said asking the Dalai Lama to abandon “violent agitation”.