China says opposes any country allowing the Dalai Lama to make visits

BEIJING (Reuters) – China firmly opposes any country allowing the Dalai Lama to make visits under any pretext, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Senior officials from the U.S. State Department and the White House met with the Dalai Lama in New York on Wednesday and “reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans,” the State Department said.

“China has made solemn protests with the U.S.”, said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular press briefing.

(Reporting by Colleen Howe; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)