China has expressed anger over this week's meeting between a group of Australian lawmakers and Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese Embassy in Canberra has called the visit a gross interference in China's internal affairs.

The six-member delegation visited the Dalai Lama at his home in exile, in Dharamsala, India.   In a statement Friday, the all-party parliamentary group thanked the Dalai Lama and his aides for providing an insight into the challenges facing the Tibetan people.   

The group says it hopes to visit Tibet during an official visit to China later this year.  

Lawmaker Michael Danby said Chinese government officials would be breaking their word if they did not allow the visit.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of inciting separatists in Tibet to fight for independence.  The Buddhist monk says he wants cultural autonomy for Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama traveled to Australia last year.

The Australian government says it is standing by its "One-China" policy, which recognizes Tibet as part of China.  It says the meeting with the Dalai Lama reflect his status as a religious leader, not a political activist