Beijing has called off a meeting between Chinese and German officials that was planned for Sunday, the day the Dalai Lama is to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an official said, according to AP. China canceled the meeting in Munich, which was part of a bilateral dialogue on legal issues and was to include German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, citing «technical reasons,» a spokeswoman for Zypries' ministry said Saturday on customary condition of anonymity. The cancellation was received Friday; the Dalai Lama's planned meeting with Merkel at the chancellery was not mentioned. German officials have characterized the meeting as a private encounter with a religious leader, but Beijing has criticized the exiled Tibetan leader's visit.
