At that time, he also met French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The 74-year-old spiritual guru has travelled across the world to garner support for 'meaningful autonomy' for Tibet despite stern warnings by Beijing to foreign governments that receive visits from the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama, along with many of his supporters, fled Tibet and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.
The Dalai Lama has ever since been heading the Tibetan government-in-exile at McLeodganj, near here. The government-in-exile is not recognised by any country in the world.