China said the door is wide open for the Dalai Lama to return from exile if the spiritual leader sheds the demand for an independent Tibet but ruled out any contact with the India-based Tibetan government in exile. Padma Choling, Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, told said this at a press conference held in connection with 60th year “liberation of Tibet” by China. This is perhaps a rare occasion that a Chinese official spoke about the return of the Dalai Lama from his exile in Dharmashala. The Chinese government did not accede to the Dalai Lama's request to allow him visit his native Tibetan province Qinghai when it was hit by a devastating earthquake last year. China held several rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives in the past but made the dialogue made no headway despite repeated assertions by him that he recognised Tibet as part of China. The Dalai Lama had however demanded on autonomy on the lines of Hong Kong and Macau and also insisted on greater Tibet, meaning unifying all Tibetan areas.