China Thursday characterized as "absurd" a decision by the Canadian parliament to grant honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
"It is clear what kind of person the Dalai Lama is," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. "It is absurd to bestow an honorary title on him."
Canada's House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion last month bestowing the title "honorary Canadian citizen on His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet."
The motion noted that the Dalai Lama "has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize as one of the world's leading champions of peace and non-violence".
The spiritual leader, in exile in India for nearly half a century, is due to visit Canada in September.
