China warns foreign govts against meeting Dalai Lama

China today cautioned foreign governments against holding any meetings with the Dalai Lama saying it was "firmly opposed" to such acts, a day after US president Barack Obama's top aides met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader in India.

"China's position on Tibet-related issues is very clear. We are firmly opposed to any foreign official meeting with the Dalai Lama," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters at a biweekly briefing.

"We are opposed to the Dalai Lama's engagement in separatist activities in any country," she said.

Beijing opposes any foreign forces making use of this issue "to interfere with China's internal affairs," Jiang said when asked to comment on the meeting between three of Obama's top aides, including White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala yesterday.

"The US side is very clear about China's position," Jiang said.

During the two-hour-long meeting between the Dalai Lama and Obama's aides, the two sides discussed the best way the US could assist in the resolution of the Tibetan issue, particularly in the light of Obama's maiden visit to China in November, the official website of the Dalai Lama said.

"She (Jarret) 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", it said.