TAIPEI: A city government official says the Dalai Lama will visit Taiwan within a week to comfort typhoon victims.

Wednesday's statement by Kaohsiung City Government Information Office Director-General Hsu Li-ming comes amid rapidly improving relations between China and Taiwan.

Presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi has declined to comment on Hsu's statement.

Last December President Ma Ying-jeou rejected the possibility of a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader, whom China regards as a supporter of Tibetan secession. Beijing usually condemns his meetings with other government leaders.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan earlier this month, claiming an estimated 600 lives.