DHARMSALA, INDIA - The Dalai Lama's envoys headed for China on Friday to hold the first talks with Chinese officials since violent protests erupted in Tibet.

China has faced mounting calls to negotiate with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, and many think it agreed to the talks in a bid to ease the pressure ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

The two envoys were going to China for "informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership," the Dalai Lama's office said in a statement. It did not say where or when the talks would take place, though Tibetan government spokesman Thubten Samphal said the envoys had arrived in Hong Kong on Friday.

The representatives would convey the Dalai Lama's "deep concerns," over China's handling of the crisis in Tibet, which turned violent in March, and would put forward "suggestions to bring peace to the region," the statement said.

Last week Beijing said it would meet an envoy of the Dalai Lama. But China underscored long-established preconditions for negotiations, including that the Dalai Lama unambiguously recognize Tibet as a part of China.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet amid a failed uprising in 1959, says he seeks meaningful autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from Chinese rule.

China and representatives of the Dalai Lama's government in exile held six rounds of inconclusive talks that foundered in 2006.

Despite long-running tensions, both sides have kept open back channels for dialogue, although they do not often talk about them. Recent discussions have been led by the Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyari.

Friday's statement said Gyari and another envoy, Kelsang Gyaltsen, would lead these talks and "raise the issue of moving forward on the process for a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue."

Samphal said the talks were being held on an informal level only "because we cannot do business as usual when the situation in Tibet is so grave."