George Bush meets with Dalai Lama

George Bush has become the first sitting US president to appear publicly alongside the Dalai Lama as he awarded the exiled spiritual leader the US Congress's highest civilian honour.

Mr Bush shrugged off criticism by China and said US relations with them would not be damaged by the award of the Congressional Gold Medal.

China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist intent on winning Tibetan independence from Beijing.

In his previous two visits Mr Bush has followed the lead of previous US presidents and met him in private to avoid offending China.

In the public ceremony, Mr Bush shook hands with the Dalai Lama as they stood side-by-side.

Before giving the award, Mr Bush said freedom of belief was "a cherished value of our nation".

Mr Bush urged the Chinese leaders to welcome the Dalai Lama to China and said: "They will find this good man to be a man of peace and reconciliation."

The president said he was "honoured" to appear alongside the Dalai Lama, who he said was considered to be a "universal symbol of faith and tolerance".

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