China criticises Bush, Dalai Lama meeting

China has criticised US President George W Bush's private meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying it was 'strongly resentful' of what it called a gross interference in its internal affairs.

Mr Bush met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader in the White House, despite calls from Beijing to call off the encounter with a figure it accuses of agitating for Tibet's independence.

Later today, the Dalai Lama is due to receive the Congressional Gold Medal from Mr Bush at a ceremony in Washington.

The award is the highest civilian award the Congress can bestow.

The Congressional Gold Medal ceremony will be the first time a sitting US president has appeared in public with the Dalai Lama.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China was strongly resentful of the meeting and resolutely opposes it.

He said they have 'seriously urged the US side to correct such wrongdoings and stop interfering in China's internal affairs in any form.'

US officials said China had already showed its anger at the encounter with Mr Bush by postponing a planned meeting of world powers in Berlin aimed at discussing the Iran nuclear crisis.

Beijing has also criticised Germany, Australia and other Western countries in recent months after their leaders met the Dalai Lama.

Mr Liu reiterated China's position that the Dalai Lama was intent on trying to achieve independence for his homeland, despite the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner insisting he wants only autonomy under Chinese rule.

'The words and deeds of the Dalai Lama in the past decades show he is a political refugee engaging in secessionist activities in the camouflage of religion,' he said.

China has ruled Tibet, a devoutly Buddhist land, since sending troops into the region in 1950, and officially 'liberating' it a year later.

The Dalai Lama fled to India following a failed uprising in 1959 and currently lives in the northern hill town of Dharamsala, which is also the seat of his government in exile.

Officials in Washington said efforts had been made to lower the profile of Mr Bush's meeting with the Dalai lama to appease China.