Milan welcomed Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Thursday and gave him an honorary citizenship on a visit to the northern Italian city.
The 80-year-old Nobel Peace prize-winning monk says he seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet, the Himalayan region that Communist Chinese troops took control of in 1950.
Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala, who is an ally of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, posted a photograph on Twitter of himself wearing a Buddhist scarf and clasping hands with the Dalai Lama.
Sala tweeted: "Milan, an open city. In the past, the present and the future."
Italian media quoted him saying he did not fear "repercussions" from the meeting.
The Dalai Lama was also received by senior Roman Catholic cardinal Angelo Scola.
The Dalai Lama was also received by senior Roman Catholic cardinal Angelo Scola.
There was no suggestion he would meet Pope Francis, who is pushing to improve relations with China.
Beijing frequently expresses its anger with countries who host the Dalai Lama at official gatherings, and promised to retaliate after Slovakia's president saw him this week.
Beijing frequently expresses its anger with countries who host the Dalai Lama at official gatherings, and promised to retaliate after Slovakia's president saw him this week.
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