Bush to host Dalai Lama at White House
WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) US President George W Bush, risking Chinese anger, will host exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the White House next week.
Bush will welcome the Dalai Lama on Tuesday, a day before he accepts the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.
The White House had previously announced that Bush and his wife, Laura, would attend the award ceremony on Capitol Hill.
China views the Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule, as a separatist.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner says he only wants greater autonomy for the predominantly Buddhist Himalayan region.
China reacted angrily when the US Congress decided to give the Dalai Lama the medal, denouncing the decision as interference in its internal affairs.
''The Chinese government strongly opposes the US Congress giving the Dalai Lama a so-called award,'' said government spokesman Liu Jianchao.
The award ceremony will be the first time Bush will have appeared in public with the Dalai Lama, who has visited the White House before but always for private meetings.
White House press secretary Dana Perino defended Bush's decision to attend the award ceremony.
''This
is
a
spiritual
leader
who
is
fighting
for
freedom
and
democracy,
which
the
president
is
supporting
as
well,''
she
said.
''(Bush)
understands
that
the
Chinese
have
concerns
about
this.
We
would
hope
that
the
Chinese
leader
would
get
to
know
the
Dalai
Lama
as
the
president
sees
him,
as
a
spiritual
leader
and
someone
who
wants
peace.''
Reuters
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