China has reportedly thanked the South African government for not granting the Dalai Lama a visa to attend a peace summit in Cape Town later this year.
"(China) highly appreciates the respect given by the South African government on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the support given to China on this issue," Reuters quoted China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Qin Gang, as saying.
"We believe that South Africa will continue to support China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Qin said.
The Dalai Lama had been scheduled to attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Cape Town next month but on Thursday cancelled his trip after the spiritual leader's aide said that the South African government would not be granting him a visa. The aide said that the reason given was that granting the visa "would disturb relations between China and South Africa".
South Africa's Department of International Relations and Co-operation said it had received written confirmation that the Dalai Lama had cancelled his trip to South Africa. The department had earlier on Thursday said that the spiritual leader's application was being processed.
It is the third time in five years that South Africa has refused to grant the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the country. In 2011 the government dragged its feet in making a decision on the Dalai Lama's visa application and caused him to miss the 80th birthday of fellow Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. The spiritual leader was also denied a visa to attend a peace conference in 2009.
China has branded the Dalai Lama as a separatist as he campaigns for Tibet's independence from China.
"The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in activities sabotaging China's sovereignty and integrity under the cloak of religion," Qin said.
"The Chinese government is firmly opposed to the Dalai's anti-China separatist activities in foreign countries."
China is also South Africa's biggest single trading partner.
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