Tibetan official slams Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

A senior Tibetan official on Sunday denounced the recent meeting between the US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, calling it "a severe interference in China's internal affairs."

"People of all ethnic groups in Tibet oppose and condemn the meeting with the Dalai Lama by any people or any organization in any form," Padma Choling, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress, told reporters after a panel discussion at the ongoing annual session of China's top legislature in Beijing.  [Special coverage]

Whatever the Dalai Lama is doing, no matter in what name, is aimed at seeking independence of Tibet, he said.

The official said that Tibet needs to develop its economy and improve the livelihood of its people.

"Whatever the Dalai Lama does will not affect Tibet's development and stability," Padma Choling said.

"As Tibetans who have witnessed, contributed to and benefited from the development of the region, we feel that our happy lives today are not easily won," he added. "We should treasure the ethnic unity in Tibet."

Obama met with the Dalai Lama in Washington last month despite China's strong opposition.