DHAKA: The Dalai Lama indicated Thursday he was in informal talks with China to make a historic pilgrimage to Tibet after more than half a century in exile.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had ‘made clear’ his desire to undertake the pilgrimage to a sacred mountain in his homeland to contacts in China, including retired Communist Party officials.

‘It’s not finalised, not yet, but the idea is there,’ the 79-year-old told media in an interview in the northern Indian hill station of Dharamshala, where he lives, reports The Straits Times.

‘Not formally or seriously, but informally... I express, this is my desire, and some of my friends, they are also showing their genuine interest or concern,’ he added.

BDST: 1738 HRS, OCT 02, 2014