Washington (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The President of the United States yesterday met the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, currently in exile in India, ten says before his official visit to Beijing.

Bush had already met the Tibetan leader twice before, in 2001 and 2003, and in both China had protested.

The meeting took place in the private quarters of the White House, not in the Oval Office. Sources close to the Dalai Lama said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, first lady Laura Bush and top administration officials were present.

With the Dalai Lama came the Buddhist leader's "special envoy" to the US, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, and two advisers.

"They discussed various issues, including global issues," Mr Gyari said. "The president was keen to hear from the Dalai Lama, who had an opportunity to share his optimism as well as some of his concerns about the situation in Tibet."

The envoy said that "his holiness the Dalai Lama was extremely pleased with the meeting and deeply appreciated the warm reception he received from the president and first lady, whom he considers as friends."

The US President's official visit to China is scheduled to begin on November 19 and Tibet should be on the table.

During an award ceremony at the White House yesterday, the US leader mentioned his meeting with the Dalai Lama but did not provide any additional information about might have been said.

According to some sources, the Buddhist religious leader asked Bush for his help in convincing Chinese President Hu Jintao to grant Tibet a "genuine autonomy".

On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama, on a 10-day visit to Washington, slammed the mainland for imposing "very, very repressive" policies in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Separately, a bipartisan congressional report accused China of "systematically" violating human rights and freedom.

House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said she and the report's other authors will pressure Bush to make human rights a "top priority" at the Beijing summit.