The Dalai Lama arrived on
Thursday in Milan, where he will receive honorary citizenship of
the northern Italian city.
The Buddhist spiritual leader had a private meeting with
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala after landing at the city's Linate
airport.
He then paid a visit to the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal
Angelo Scola.
The Chinese government expressed outrage.
"Our position is clear. We are strongly against any
contact or meetings with officials of other countries," Foreign
Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press conference.
China has accused the exiled spiritual leader of
encouraging separatist activities in Tibet.
Milan's giving the Dalai Lama honorary citizenship "has
gravely wounded the feelings of the Chinese people," the Chinese
embassy in Rome said.
"All this has a negative impact on bilateral relations and
cooperation between the regions of the two countries.
"China, with its Institutional Representatives, expresses
strong reproach and firm opposition".
The embassy said that Milan city council, "the other
institutions and persons (were) present with connivance" at the
Dalai Lama's visit to Milan.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, accused of fomenting
rebellion in the Chinese province, has received honorary
citizenships from several Italian towns and cities.
For his part, the 81-year-old said that Chinese embassies
had a hand in organizing protests against him.
"Some protest because they don't know what I'm promoting,
others are organized by the Chinese embassies to create these
problems," the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner said when asked
about planned demonstrations by the Chinese community in Milan
against him being awarded the honorary citizenship of the city.
"It's a very normal thing. It always happens".
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