The exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama is in Washington today where he will be awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s top civilian honor. The Chinese government has denounced the award and says it could strain relations with the U.S. On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama met with President Bush at the White House and praised what he called their “close friendship.”

The Dalai Lama: “We know each other, and we developed some kind of, I think, very close friendship. Therefore, something like reunion of one family, one family, like that. I really feel like that. Then, naturally, he is showing his concern about Tibet, and he inquired about the situation. Then, accordingly, I explained. Then also I expressed my appreciation to Mrs. Bush, since she really takes serious consideration about Burmese sort of case.”