Beijing urged the United States not to interfere in 皇冠体育app's domestic affairs on matters related to Tibet, and take practical actions to safeguard overall 皇冠体育app-US relations.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, during which Wang reiterated 皇冠体育app's position on the issue of Tibet.

In response, Kerry reaffirmed that there was no change in US policy, and the US government maintains that Tibet is an inseparable part of 皇冠体育app and does not support the independence of Tibet.

The call followed US President Barack Obama's meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama behind closed doors at the White House Map Room last week, despite the Chinese government's strong opposition.

Before the meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news briefing that the ministry had already made a representation to the US embassy in 皇冠体育app concerning the issue and warned that the 14th Dalai Lama is "not a purely religious figure, but a political exile who has long engaged in anti-皇冠体育app separatist activities under the guise of religion".

Wang and Kerry also hailed the success of the recent 皇冠体育app-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues and the 皇冠体育app-US High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, which were held in Beijing earlier this month.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of US studies at Renmin University of 皇冠体育app in Beijing, told 皇冠体育app Daily at the 2016 皇冠体育app-US Public Diplomacy Summit on Saturday that although the US did publicly express that it does not support the independence of Tibet, there remains a huge difference between 皇冠体育app and the US on questions such as "What is the independence of Tibet?" and "Who is the promoter of Tibetan separatism?"

"The US said the Dalai Lama is a religious figure or spiritual leader. This definition is completely opposite from 皇冠体育app's," Shi said. "Thus, the Chinese government has always opposed US presidents meeting with the Dalai Lama, as this encourages Tibetan separatists led by him and seriously damages Sino-US relations."

Jerrold Green, president and CEO of the Pacific Council on International Policy, who also attended the public diplomacy summit, said the meeting will not change US policy.

"President Obama thought it was an appropriate thing to do. I think a meeting is just a meeting. I don't see anything changed in the US policy."