China cuts ties with Czech President over Dalai Lama visit

Czech President Petr Pavel met the 14th Dalai Lama in India in July despite strong opposition from Beijing. - Facebook/DalaiLama

BEIJING: China said it will cease engagement with Czech President Petr Pavel over his meeting with the Dalai Lama, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Pavel met the 14th Dalai Lama in India in July despite strong opposition from Beijing, which considers the Tibetan spiritual leader a separatist. The Czech presidential office said the meeting with the Dalai Lama, who celebrated his 90th birthday last month, took place in a private capacity.