United States President George W Bush will meet the Dalai Lama the day before the Tibetan spiritual leader is due to receive the congressional medal in Washington.
The meeting is likely to anger China, which regards the Dalai Lama as the leader of a separatist movement.
The awarding of the congressional medal to the Dalai Lama has already angered Beijing, and while the White House is playing down the significance of his latest private meeting with Mr Bush, the timing is likely to add fuel to the diplomatic flames.
Earlier in the day a spokesman for the Chinese Government said that the Beijing authorities resolutely oppose the US Congress' awarding, what he referred to as a so-called 'congressional gold medal' to the Dalai Lama, adding that China was opposed to any country or person using the Dalai Lama issue to interfere in China's internal affairs. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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