China opposes Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

Beijing, Feb 2: China said Monday that it opposes any meeting between any country's leaders and the Dalai Lama "in any form". The comments came in response to a question regarding a possible meeting between US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at a Feb 5 "prayer breakfast", Xinhua reported. "We strongly oppose any country interfering in China's internal affairs in the name of issues regarding Tibet," the spokesperson said. "Issues regarding Tibet concern China's core interests and national sentiments," he stated. "We urge the US to stick to its commitments on issues regarding Tibet, and properly settle related issue with the overall interests of China-US relations in mind." The Dalai Lama lives in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, where a Tibetan government-in-exile is based. He shifted to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.