The Chinese central government and the Dalai Lama side had "sharply divided" views in the latest talks "as usual," a Chinese official said Tuesday.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told a press conference, "We have been accustomed to such a viewpoint confrontation as views had been divided in previous talks" between the central government and the private representatives of the Dalai Lama.

But he said the viewpoint confrontation also "had some upside" as it let both sides know what exactly their differences were and how wide the differences were.

"It helps the Dalai Lama realize the position he has been in."

The central government wanted to "give the Dalai Lama a chance to correct his mistakes" by holding talks with his envoys, Zhu said.

However, he said, the talks were not without result, as the central government arranged trips for the envoys to visit central Hunan Province to better understand the country and the ethnic autonomy policy.