Ignoring Chinese request,US says Obama will meet Dalai Lama

Ignoring China's warning that Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama would 'further damage' the bilateral ties,the White House has asserted that the meeting will take place as scheduled on February 18.

Ignoring China’s warning that US President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama would “further damage” the bilateral ties,the White House has asserted that the meeting will take place as scheduled on February 18.

The White House officials expressed surprise at Beijing’s statement as they said the US had informed China well in advance about the meeting.

“I know that obviously we discussed the fact that this meeting would happen on our trip to Beijing,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

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According to him,Obama discussed with his Chinese counterpart during his China trip his plans to meet the Dalai Lama.

“Before I announced it,we talked to them and said we’re going to announce this meeting,” Gibbs said.

When asked about the latest statement coming out of Beijing that Obama should cancel his meeting with the Dalai Lama,Gibbs said: “I do not know if their specific reaction was to cancel it. If that was their specific reaction,the meeting will take place as planned next Thursday.”

While there was no word if there would be any joint media availability,or the meeting would be kept out of bonds of the media,Gibbs said there would be readout of the meeting.

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“Obviously the President will discuss with the Dalai Lama there his belief that he and the Chinese continue to discuss the issues that they have relating to Tibet,and I assume we’ll have readout after that,” Gibbs said.

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