Washington has grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and seriously damaged Sino-US relations by hosting the Dalai Lama on Friday, Chinese officials and observers said.

US President Barack Obama met the 14th Dalai Lama in the White House Map Room. It was Obama's third such meeting in five years as president.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said after the meeting was announced: "China strongly opposes the meeting. The Tibet issue is part of China's internal affairs that no other countries shall interfere with.