Beijing yesterday urged the Dalai Lama to "cherish" the opportunity of fresh talks with Beijing as his envoys arrived for discussions.

Representatives of the central government and the Dalai Lama were preparing for their ninth round of talks.

"At the request of the Dalai Lama, the relevant agencies of the central government arranged for the private representatives of the Dalai Lama to visit China and have consultations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular press briefing.