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The Chinese central government and the Dalai Lama side had "sharply divided" views in the latest talks "as usual," a Chinese official said Tuesday.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee

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Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told a press conference, "We have been accustomed to such a confrontation of viewpoints as views had been divided in previous talks."

But he said the talks "had some upside" as they let both sides know exactly their differences and how wide the differences were.

"It helps the Dalai Lama realize the position he has been in."

The central government wanted to "give the Dalai Lama a chance to correct his mistakes" by holding talks with his envoys, Zhu said.

However, he said, the talks were not without result, as the central government arranged trips for the envoys to visit central Hunan Province to better understand the country and the regional ethnic autonomy policy.

He said during the previous talks, Lodi Gyari had presented a "Memorandum from All Tibetans to Enjoy Genuine Autonomy," and obscure words were intentionally used in the memorandum in an attempt to explain "Greater Tibet" and "high degree of autonomy."

When the memorandum was rejected by the central government, Gyari was not pleased, saying he would not want new talks, Zhu said.

"But this time, Gyari says talks will continue in the future," he said.

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