China on Friday called for U.S. President Barack Obama to cancel a scheduled meeting with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Obama is scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama, who says he seeks meaningful autonomy for Tibet, not independence, on Friday in Washington. China labels him as a political exile who engages in separatist movements.

"By arranging a meeting between the president and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China," China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

"We urge the U.S. to take China's concerns seriously, immediately cancel the meeting, and not to provide facilitation and a platform for the Dalai Lama to carry out anti-China separatist activities in the U.S.," Hua said.

Obama has met with the Dalai Lama twice before: in February 2010 and July 2011. (Yonhap News)