BEIJING, July 17 � Hours after President Barack Obama had an audience with the Dalai Lama, China today summoned top US diplomat here to convey its �strong indignation� over the meeting, saying it amounted to �gross interference� in its internal affairs and damaged the bilateral ties.
Obama's meeting with the Dalai �has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, hurt the feelings of Chinese people and damaged the Sino-American relations,� Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement, expressing "stern objection" over the US act.
�We demand the US side to seriously consider China's stance, immediately adopt measures to wipe out the baneful impact, stop interfering in China's internal affairs and cease to connive and support anti-China separatist forces that seek �Tibet independence�,� he said.
