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Don't receive Dalai Lama : China

The Dalai Lama being greeted by the public at the inter-faith prayer gathering in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 1 June 2009. China on Tuesday warned that countries receiving the Dalai Lama on his current European tour will “severely damage” relations with Beijing.File photo/Ragnar Axelsson/Iceland

China on Tuesday warned that countries receiving the Dalai Lama on his current European tour will ‘severely damage’ relations with Beijing.

‘Any irresponsible moves by any country over this issue will constitute gross intervention in the internal affairs of China and will severely damage relations with those countries,’ foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. He gave no other details.

During his visit, the Dalai Lama met with the Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and other top Danish elected officials, which drew an angry reaction from China, warning of damage to bilateral ties.

The 73-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader also was made an honorary citizen of the Polish capital Warsaw and is expected to receive a similar honour from Paris when he travels later to France.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet from Chinese rule and considers any official meeting with the leader as meddling in China’s internal affairs.

The Dalai Lama denies the accusation, saying he wants only meaningful autonomy for his homeland.

The Dalai Lama’s trip also is taking him to Iceland and the Netherlands.

Copyright © 2009 AFP

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