Dalai Lama meets German minister

By Tristana Moore
BBC News, Berlin

The German minister's decision to meet the Dalai Lama was controversial

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is in Berlin on the final leg of his tour of Germany.

He has met with the country's Economic and Development Minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.

Thousands of people are expected to take part in a rally led by the Dalai Lama at the capital's Brandenburg Gate.

His trip has exposed sharp divisions within Angela Merkel's government. Some suggest it caved in to Chinese pressure not to organise high-profile meetings.

The Dalai Lama will not be meeting either Chancellor Merkel or Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Formal complaint

Instead, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader had an audience with Ms Wieczorek-Zeul.

Some politicians praised the minister's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, but others criticised her for not toeing the government line.

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The Chinese embassy was quick to file a formal complaint with the German government.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said the Dalai Lama was committed to the independence of Tibet, despite his assurances to the contrary, and he should not be given any official welcome.

The Dalai Lama is a hugely popular figure in Germany.

On Sunday, more than 7,000 people turned up at a rally in Nuremberg, where the Dalai Lama gave a rousing speech calling for greater religious tolerance.

Last year, Mrs Merkel enraged the Chinese leadership by receiving the Dalai Lama in Berlin for private talks, a step that triggered a frosty spell in German-Chinese relations.

Since then, under pressure from business leaders, the German government has been trying to mend fences with Beijing.