DHARAMSALA, India, May 8 (Reuters) - An envoy to the Dalai Lama said on Thursday Chinese negotiators had shown a willingness to engage with the Tibetan side during recent talks, despite major differences on important issues.

Each side exchanged "concrete proposals which can be part of a future agenda", the envoy, Lodi Gyari, said in a statement issued in Dharamsala, home of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

"Despite major differences on on important issues, both sides demonstrated a willingness to seek common approaches in addressing the issues at hand," he said.

A date for another round of formal talks would be finalised soon, Lodi Gyari said.

"We welcome the recent statement of President Hu Jintao that his government is 'serious' about the dialogue and his acknowledging that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is being 'conscientious and serious'," he said. (Reporting by Abhishek Madhukar; Writing by Simon Denyer)

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