Beijing , China ( CNN ) -- President Obama intends to meet the Dalai Lama even though China has warned that such a meeting would harm bilateral ties , a White House spokesman said Tuesday . `` The president told China 's leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama , and he intends to do so , '' Bill Burton told reporters covering Obama 's planned town hall meeting in New Hampshire later Tuesday . No date for Obama 's meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader has been announced . The Dalai Lama has speaking engagements scheduled in the United States in late February and in May . Earlier Tuesday , China warned that ties between two of the world 's superpowers would be strained if Obama met with the Dalai Lama . `` It will seriously undermine the foundation of Sino-U.S. political relations , '' said Zhu Weiqun , a Communist Party official who is in charge of talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama . `` We will take corresponding action to make relevant countries see their mistakes . '' Zhu issued his warning during a news conference to discuss the lack of progress made during five days of talks between China and the Dalai Lama 's representatives . Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of advocating for Tibetan independence from China . `` The two sides had sharply divided views , '' Zhu said . `` We have been accustomed to such clash of viewpoints . It 's been the norm rather than the exception . '' In explaining Obama 's intention to hold the meeting , Burton said the Dalai Lama `` is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader , and the president will meet with him in that capacity . `` As the president has expressed , we expect that our relationship with China is mature enough where we can work out issues of mutual concerns -- such as climate , the global economy and nonproliferation -- and discuss frankly and candidly those issues where we disagree , '' Burton said . `` The president is committed to building a positive , comprehensive and cooperative relationship with China . '' Tibet is technically autonomous from the central Chinese government , but the Dalai Lama and others have said they favor genuine autonomy and resent the slow erosion of their culture amid an influx of Han Chinese , the most numerous ethnic group in China . Zhu said there would be no compromise on China 's control of Tibet . Representatives from the two sides have met eight other times , but have reached no consensus on the issue of autonomy . The Dalai Lama fled China in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule . He lives in exile in the north Indian hill town of Dharamsala . Burton said the United States `` considers Tibet to be a part of China , and we have human rights concerns about the treatment of Tibetans . '' `` We urge the government of China to protect the unique cultural and religious traditions of Tibet , '' he said . CNN 's Jaime Florcruz and Helena Hong contributed to this report .
NEW : Obama to meet Dalai Lama in his capacity as a `` respected religious and cultural leader '' China warns a meeting between the two would `` seriously undermine Sino-U.S. ties '' Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of advocating for Tibetan independence . The Tibetan spiritual leader fled China in 1959 , now lives in India .