“President Barack Obama has called the Dalai Lama a “good friend” and an inspiration for freedom and dignity of all human beings. Mr Obama was speaking at a prayer event in Washington with Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader among the audience. It was the first time the president and the Tibetan Buddhist leader attended the same public event. China objects to foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama because they see him as a separatist.[…]”

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31152847