Obama, Dalai Lama to meet this month

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The White House said President Obama and the Dalai Lama would meet at the White House this month.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs confirmed to reporters Thursday that the meeting would be in February but didn’t specify a date. The Dalai Lama’s secretary has said he will be in Washington on Feb. 17-18.

Chinese leaders have urged Obama not to meet with the exiled Tibetan religious leader.

The White House said Obama told China’s leaders last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, who is viewed by U.S. leaders as a respected religious and cultural leader.

Beijing says the Dalai Lama seeks to destroy China’s sovereignty by pushing independence for Tibet.

-- Associated Press