LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Prince Charles intends to hold talks with the Dalai Lama when he visits Britain in May and will not attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August, a British royal family spokesman said Monday (24 Mar).

The spokesman told The Yomiuri Shimbun that the Prince of Wales wants to meet--for what would be the fourth time--with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader because he "admires the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader".

"As (the Prince of Wales) is not invited to (the) Beijing (Olympics), he is not going there," the spokesman said. "And even if he is invited, he is not going there."

The prince has concerns over human rights issues in China and the Tibetan problem. In 2002, he invited two nuns who reportedly were tortured in a Lhasa prison to his London residence.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also expressed his intention to meet with the Dalai Lama in May.

But they likely will consider matters such as the effect on Britain's trade with China and not discuss matters that might provoke Beijing.

Brown accepted an invitation to the Olympics when he visited China in January, according to his 10 Downing Street office. (By KEIICHI HONMA/ The Yomiuri Shimbun/ ANN)