New Delhi, Dec 8 : China has lodged a strong protest against French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with Tibetans spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned French Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous on Sunday evening, lodging a strong protest, Xinhua reported.

Sarkozy persisted in meeting the Dalai Lama on Saturday as French president, who also holds the rotating EU presidency, in total disregard of Chinese people’s strong opposition and repeated stern representations by the Chinese side.

“This grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs. It also severely undermined China’s core interest, gravely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and sabotaged the political basis of China-France and China-EU relations.”

“The Chinese government firmly opposes and strongly protests to the action,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said.

Also on Sunday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao made remarks to slash Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Sarkozy held a half-hour meeting with the Dalai Lama Saturday in the Polish city of Gdansk. (ANI)