China urges other countries not to host Dalai Lama

Beijing: China on Wednesday again urged other countries not to host the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

"We urge countries concerned to respect China's core interests and make the right decisions," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said.

The spokesman reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Dalai Lama's visits to foreign countries.

The spiritual leader will attend a three-day human rights conference at Gaborone in Botswana from August 17. Botswana has said it will allow the Dalai Lama to visit the country.

Lu said China never intervened in the internal affairs of other countries, nor will it allow other countries to harm its core interests.

The country calls the Dalai Lama a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and accuses him of secessionist activities in Tibet.

In 1959, after a failed uprising in Tibet, the Dalai Lama fled to India and has lived in self-imposed exile since then.

--IANS