In a BBC interview, he said he would be happy never to return to Tibet as long as the basic rights of the country's six million people were met.

If he did one day return, he said in the interview to be broadcast Sunday, he would introduce a multi-party system of government.

The Dalai Lama has been in exile since 1959, when the fragile co-existence with Chinese authorities, who had marched in nine years earlier, collapsed, leading to an uprising against Beijing's rule.

Since then the 63-year-old has repeatedly demanded a non-violent approach and dialogue with China to break down barriers and lead to autonomy.

He said the agreement drawn up by Chinese authorities after they took over in 1951 contained "the spirit of one country, two systems," but that a few years later Beijing's position hardened.

Politics since then had been about "national survival," he told the radio programme, but if he was allowed to return, the focus would turn to internal democracy.

"When we return to Tibet I will no longer carry the responsibility because then, according to democratic principles, we should have different parties."

Later he said: "I strongly feel the religious institution and the temporal power should be separated.

"In administration, sometimes you have to take unpleasant decisions that could harm in the spiritual field or create misunderstanding in the people."

He thought China's attitude was changing "month by month ... there's more signs of hope," even though, inside Tibet, he acknowledged there was "reason to feel frustration" at the apparent lack of progress, with Beijing cracking down hard on any signs of dissent.

If Beijing offered a solution that would involve autonomy but exclude his return, the Dalai Lama said it would be "no problem ... I can happily remain outside."

China's argument that his return would provoke instability was untrue, he added. "Force is not the proper method or the right method to develop proper stability."

Physically humans could be controlled by force, but not spiritually. "I believe the best way is for Chinese government to provide us meaningful self-rule and we will be loyal to the People's Republic of China. That is the guarantee for unity and stability."

On March 10, the Dalai Lama made a similar impassioned appeal for Beijing to resume a dialogue on Tibet in a speech to supporters in Dharamsala marking the 40th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising. The northern Indian town has been his home and the base of his government in exile for the past four decades.

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Last updated: 22-Mar-99