BEIJING, Nov 17 (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Tuesday addressed the thorny issue of Tibet with China's Hu Jintao, saying he backs an early resumption of talks between Beijing and representatives of the Dalai Lama.

"We did note that while we recognise that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue" between envoys of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader and Beijing, Obama said.

The Dalai Lama fled Chinese-ruled Tibet more than 50 years ago and is seen by Beijing as a separatist seeking independence for his Himalayan homeland -- an accusation that the Buddhist monk has repeatedly denied.

China has repeatedly said the door was always open for dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives, but so far sporadic talks over the past decade have failed to make progress.

The Dalai Lama in October made his first visit to Washington in 18 years that did not include a meeting with the US president.

Critics of Obama said he avoided an encounter so as not to upset Beijing before his high-stakes debut visit to China.

White House aides have said the two Nobel Peace Prize winners would meet at an "appropriate time" after the president's visit to China.

In the key policy speech of his nine-day Asia trip in Japan at the weekend, Obama did not specifically mention Tibet.