Dharamsala, Feb 3 (IANS) Elated that President Barack Obama still plans to meet the Dalai Lama despite warnings from Beijing, Tibetan exiles here are looking for an early meeting.

'We are hopeful that the meeting will soon take place,' Tenzin Taklha, the joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office, told IANS.

The Dalai Lama is visiting Washington for 10 days starting Feb 16.

'US authorities are keen to finalise a meeting between them. Last year the meeting was put off as Obama was proposed to visit China,' a senior official in the Dalai Lama's office said.

The Dalai Lama is likely to highlight the cause of Tibet when he meets Obama and apprise him about the recent talks between the exiles as well as Chinese officials.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is also likely meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Thubten Samphel, a spokesperson for the Tibetan government-in-exile, said on its official website that 'from our perspective we feel the role of the US is to facilitate a just and honest dialogue between the Dalai Lama's envoys and the government of China. So there is nothing wrong in a meeting between the president and His Holiness'.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. Over 150,000 Tibetans live outside Tibet, most of them in India.