Canadian PM meets Dalai Lama despite China protest

Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the first Canadian premier to hold formal talks with the Dalai Lama when he met the Tibetan spiritual leader in his office, ignoring China's warning that it could affect Sino-Canadian relations.

Although Monday's 40-minute meeting at Harper's Centre Block office was described as "non-political" by the Dalai Lama, activists said the it was a "fantastic gesture" by the Canadian prime minister.

The Tibetan, who is an honorary Canadian citizen, said China should view Canada as a "model" of multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious country, and could learn from the country "how to work for promotion of unity on the basis of mutual respect."

While describing Harper as a strong defender of human rights, the Dalai Lama said before the meeting that he disagreed with the war in Afghanistan, but the subject was not brought up during the meeting between the two.

"Issues like that were not discussed," Canada's Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney said.

As expected, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa issued a statement critical of Harper's public meeting with the Dalai Lama, who they refer to as a political figure engaged in "secessionist" activities.

"It is an interference in China's internal affairs. Both sides could be hurt," an embassy official said.

China says the Dalai Lama is seeking independence of Tibet, while the Tibetan leader maintains that he is only seeking autonomy.

Harper is the latest western leader following US President George W Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Australian Prime Minister John Howard who have publicly met with the Tibetan spiritual leader in recent months.

Despite China's threats, the meeting has huge public support, with a recent poll suggesting that 80 per cent of Canadians gave a thumbs-up for the meeting despite the possible consequences in relations with Beijing.

According to a Canada Tibet Committee survey conducted last month, nearly nine out of 10 Canadians support the meeting.

"I think Canadians are speaking with one voice and the West is speaking with one voice and China now has an obligation to hear the message that we are sending," Dermod Travis, the group's executive director said.

Travis said western nations have made a distinct shift in recent years toward a negotiated solution for an autonomous Tibet within China and the prime minister's meeting demonstrates he wants to see concrete change and not a continuation of the current record.

"Certainly we would hope that the prime minister will reflect what the House of Commons said this year when it passed a motion unanimously in February calling on the government of Canada to increase pressure on the government of China to enter into these negotiations with determination and resolve to reach a solution," Travis told CTV.ca channel.

Lhadon Tethong, Tibetan-Canadian and executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, said the meeting was a "fantastic gesture and a very important one for the elected prime minister of the Canadian people to the Dalai Lama."