Remaining with China in Tibetans' interest: Dalai Lama

New Delhi, Mar 29: The Dalai Lama today asserted that the Tibetans were only seeking ''meaningful autonomy'' and not ''independence'' or ''separation'' from China as remaining with the Asian economic giant was in their ''larger interest''.

''We only want meaningful autonomy and not independence from China. Remaining with China is in our own larger interest,'' the Tibetan spiritual leader said at a crowded news conference here. Besides spiritual advancement, he said the Tibetans also need material development. ''We are not anti-Chinese. We are not seeking separation from China,'' the Dalai Lama added. He said the Tibetans only want full guarantee and assurances from the Chinese government that it would preserve their cultural heritage and provide them with complete religious freedom.

UNI