Obama meets with the Dalai Lama

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President Barack Obama on Thursday spent an hour with the Dalai Lama, a private chat designed to show support for human rights without aggravating U.S. relations with China.

Speaking to reporters, the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, said he was very happy with the session, which was closed to the press.

“The president stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China,” according to a White House statement.

“The president stressed that he has consistently encouraged both sides to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks. The president and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China,” the White House said.

Thursday’s meeting, similar to what former presidents have held with the Dali Lama, was deliberately low-key. Beijing, which issued a pro forma protest, sees the Dali Lama as a nationalist leader who wants to throw the Chinese out of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has said in the past that he is not a separatist, but a human rights activist.

The session comes as the United States is seeking China’s support on nuclear issues, including tougher sanctions against Iran and the ongoing talks over North Korea.

-- Michael Muskal

Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal