'She (Jarrett) reiterated President Obama's commitment to support the Tibetan people in protecting their distinct religious, linguistic, and cultural heritage and securing respect for their human rights and civil liberties,' said an official statement of the Dalai Lama's office.

'She said the president commends the Dalai Lama for being consistent in looking for a solution based on Tibetan autonomy with the People's Republic of China.'

'She discussed with His Holiness the best way the US could assist in the resolution for the Tibetan issue, particularly in the light of the first visit by President Obama to China in November,' the release said.

The delegation also met Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama's special envoy Lodi Gyari here Sunday.

The Chinese government has stepped up pressure on foreign governments that receive visits from the spiritual leader. It has already reacted angrily to a meeting between the Dalai Lama and Obama, saying the meeting would sour Sino-US relations.

Sources in the Dalai Lama's Office had Monday said that modalities regarding the proposed meeting between the Buddhist monk and the US president 'are being worked out during the visit of Obama aides'.

However, Rinpoche's statement here could be seen as an attempt to end all speculations regarding Obama and Dalai Lama's visit.

Dharamsala is the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which is not recognised by any country in the world.

A total of 140,000 Tibetans now live in exile, over 100,000 of them in different parts of India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.