PM urged: meet Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama Trust has urged John Key to keep his pre-election promise to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday he would not meet the Dalai Lama when he comes to Auckland next month because there "is no particular reason" to do so.

However, Thuten Kesang, chairman of the trust, said yesterday: "The reason is for him to keep his promise."

Despite saying New Zealand had not been asked by the Chinese Government not to meet the Tibetan leader, Mr Key said he told President Hu Jintao at the Apec summit in Singapore last week that he would not be meeting the Dalai Lama.

"They must have been discussing the visit when they met in Singapore, and I am absolutely sure Chinese pressure has everything to do with the Prime Minister's decision," said Mr Kesang.

Parliament was told yesterday that Mr Key had sought advice on foreign policy consequences of meeting the Dalai Lama before deciding not to.

Green MP Keith Locke said the refusal to meet the Tibetan monk was an "unofficial boycott".