China on Thursday reacted angrily to the US decision to bestow its highest civilian award on the Dalai Lama and asked other countries not to meddle in its internal affairs using the Tibet issue."China resolutely opposes the awarding of the so-called US Congressional Gold Medal to Dalai Lama," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.Liu was asked to comment on the decision of the US Congress to honour the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader with the nation's highest civilian award.US President George W Bush is scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama on October 17 in Washington and honour him at a public event for the first time. Bush has met the 1989 Buddhist Nobel Peace Prize winner earlier but always in the White House."China opposes any country or anyone to use the Dalai issue to interfere in China's internal affairs under the name of religion," Liu said.He said the Chinese government has lodged a "solemn representation" to the United States against the move, clearly stating that China is opposed to the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama."I believe that the US government is quite clear about the Chinese position," the spokesman said.Asked about the growing trend of foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama despite stern warnings from China, the spokesman said that China has made solemn representations with these countries, urging them to honour their commitments on the Tibet issue."Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory and they (foreign governments) should not try to interfere with internal affairs of China," he said, adding that this serves the long-term interests of China and other countries in the development of their bilateral relations.China reacts angrily to any recognition given to the Dalai Lama, whom it accuses of being a separatist.Last month, China criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel after she met the Dalai Lama and backed his call for more cultural autonomy for Tibet.The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing his Himalayan homeland in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.
