China today warned that a decision by the US Congress to honor the Dalai Lama would "seriously" damage relations between the countries.
The Congress will give the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, an award this week at a ceremony attended by President George W. Bush.
"The move will seriously damage China-US relations," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said, although he did not specify details. He added China hoped the United States would "correct its mistakes and cancel relevant arrangements and stop interfering in the internal affairs of China".
Mr Bush and the Dalai Lama are to meet at the White House later today, one day before a public ceremony will be held to award the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal.
The Dalai Lama has been based in India since fleeing his Himalayan homeland in 1959 amid a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
He remains immensely popular among Tibetans, despite persistent efforts to demonise him by Beijing, which claims he is seeking to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet.
The Dalai Lama insists he wants "real autonomy," not independence for the region, which the mainland claims has been its territory for centuries.
AP