BEIJING -- China on Friday voiced opposition to any country receiving the Dalai Lama and interfering in China's internal affairs in the name of issues regarding Tibet.

"The Dalai Lama is seeking foreign support to realize his political ambition, which would never succeed," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a daily press briefing.

US President Barack Obama welcomed the Dalai Lama at a "prayer breakfast" in Washington on Thursday, but did not meet him directly, according to reports.

"The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has been engaged in secessionist activities under the cloak of religion," Hong said.

The Xinhua news agency issued an English-language commentary shortly before the "prayer breakfast".

"Chumming with a secessionist is playing with fire, which severely harms the mutual trust between China and the United States, and downgrades Obama's credit as a national leader for breaking his commitments to China on the Tibet issue, " it said.