Central gov't, Dalai Lama views "sharply divided": official

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- 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, told a press conference, "We have been accustomed to such a viewpoint confrontation as views had been divided in previous talks" between the central government and the private representatives of the Dalai Lama.

The State Council Information Office held a press conference Tuesday morning to brief media on the talks.