Dalai Lama says Tibet needs China

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The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, said on Monday that his country should remain within China for the sake of its economic development.

But the 70-year-old leader said the Tibetan people themselves would have to determine their future if China continued to deny them real autonomy.

"If Chinese government provides us meaningful autonomy, self law, then it is in our own interest to remain within the People's Republic of China," said the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since he fled from Chinese troops in 1959.

As far as economic development was concerned, Tibet would get immense benefit if it remained part of China, he told a 16,000 strong gathering in Washington, where he is on 10-day visit that includes talks with US President George W Bush.

"Tibet is economically backward, although spiritually highly advanced. But spiritual (strength) alone cannot fill our stomach. So we need economic development," he said.

"If this approach should fail, then of course it is up to the Tibetan people. I'm going to ask the Tibetan people what to do."

China formally established a Tibetan Autonomous Region in 1965 but the Dalai Lama has said there is no genuine autonomy. He has been waging a non-violent campaign to press China to provide greater rights for Tibet's six million people.

China sees its occupation of Tibet since 1950 as a liberation of the region which has saved the Tibetan people from feudal oppression.