Obama and Dalai Lama in public greeting

PRESIDENT Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama saluted each other across a plush ballroom at a high-profile prayer event Thursday, a first public encounter that is sure to anger Beijing.

Seated a few strides away from each other at a prayer breakfast in Washington, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader put his hands together, bowed and made a peace sign with his fingers as he was acknowledged by hosts.

Obama placed his hands together in response.

Previous encounters between the men have been held behind closed doors to avoid angering Beijing, which accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China.

It vigorously lobbies against foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama “in any form.”

Ahead of this potential fourth meeting, the White House had been quick to play down talk of a first — deeply symbolic — public encounter.

Wearing his familiar saffron and maroon robes, the Dalai Lama was not seated at the head table with Obama and other speakers, but was a short distance away from the dais.

China has already weighed in on a potential meeting, decrying foreign interference in its “domestic affairs.”

“We hope that the American side will act upon its commitment on Tibet-related issues and properly deal with relevant issues in keeping with the overall interests of bilateral relations,” said a foreign ministry spokesman.

The government-published China Daily newspaper said: “Should a president of the United States meet with the Dalai Lama, it will unquestionably step on China’s toes and therefore cast a shadow over US-China relations.

“Obama is acquiescing to the Dalai Lama’s attempt to split Tibet from China.”

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising in Tibet.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing’s rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.