The Associated Press
Published: September 20, 2007

VIENNA, Austria: Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer met with the
Dalai Lama on Thursday, a spokesman said, drawing a protest from the
Chinese Embassy.

The early morning meeting took place in the chancellory and lasted about
45 minutes, spokesman Sven Pusswald said.

The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, fled Tibet for
India in 1959 during a failed uprising against Chinese rule. He remains
highly popular among Tibetans, despite persistent efforts to undermine
him by Chinese authorities.

Austrian media reported that the Chinese Embassy protested the meeting.

In broadcast remarks after the meeting, Gusenbauer described relations
between Austria and China as "very good" and said Austria was a "place
of dialogue."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to meet the religious leader
on Sunday.