Tibetans express joy as Dalai Lama, Obama exchange greetings

Exiled Tibetans have expressed their joy as spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and U.S. President Barack Obama exchanged greetings at an annual prayer breakfast in Washington DC.

President Obama and the Dalai Lama exchanged greetings on Friday but did not meet directly at a religious event in the US capital, in an affair which is being closely watched by Beijing. China has reportedly 'warned' against any meetings with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

At the occasion, President Obama spoke about the importance of religious freedom, with the Dalai Lama seated at a table in the front row across from the US President.

Spokesperson of Tibetan government in-exile, Sonam Norbu Dagpo, said that President Obama had addressed the Dalai Lama as his friend.

"We feel it's a great joy that his holiness, the Dalai Lama, was invited to the breakfast prayer. President Obama addressed his holiness as his friend and not only that his holiness' stand for human dignity and freedom. So I think it's a great pleasure that his holiness the Dalai Lama was able to really participate in one of the most important public gathering," said Dagpo.

After the breakfast event was announced, Beijing said it opposed any country meeting with the Dalai Lama under any circumstances.

President Obama, who the White House has said has a 'great relationship' with the Dalai Lama, has previously met with the spiritual leader three times, most recently in February 2014.