Sarkozy-Dalai meeting draws Beijing's ire

China yesterday lodged a strong protest against French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama on Saturday, saying France should "shoulder all the consequences" of the action.

Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned French Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous yesterday evening and lodged the protest, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama on Saturday even as France holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency has damaged hard-won Sino-French relations, He said.