China has postponed a summit with the European Union next week over a visit to Europe by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The Chinese authorities have informed the European Union of their decision to request the postponement of the 11th European Union-China summit, scheduled to take place on December 1," the statement said.
"They said their decision was due to the fact that the Dalai Lama will at the same time undertake a new visit in several countries of the Union and will meet on this occasion heads of state and government."
On November 14, China hit out at French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s planned meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland next month, warning it could hurt relations between the two countries.
France holds the EU’s rotating presidency until the end of next month.
The 73-year-old Buddhist leader is also due to visit the Czech Republic and Belgium, where he is scheduled to address the European Parliament in Brussels on December 4.
"The European Union, which set ambitious aims for the 11th European Union-China summit, takes note and regrets this decision by China," the statement said.
The bloc said it planned to continue to "promote the strategic partnership it has with China, particularly at a time when the world economic and financial situation calls for close cooperation between Europe and China."
The Dalai Lama and Sarkozy will both be attending ceremonies in Poland to mark the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace prize to Lech Walesa, the anti-communist union activist who later became president.
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