The Tibetan spiritual leader spoke at a Chinese-built sports stadium on the outskirts of Ulan Bator that underscored the economic sway that Beijing exercises over landlocked and largely poor Mongolia.
In an attempt to allay Chinese concerns about the Buddhist leader, senior Mongolian lamas repeatedly said the visit was purely religious.
In Beijing, however, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China had made “a solemn representation” to Mongolia and was opposed to any country giving a platform to the Dalai Lama. China accuses the Dalai Lama of wanting to split Tibet from China, a charge the Nobel Peace Prize laureate denies.
Mongolia’s people traditionally follow the Tibetan school of Buddhism, and the Dalai Lama has visited at least a half dozen times.
The Dalai Lama’s visit comes at time of renewed unrest in Tibetan areas of China, where at least 11 people have set themselves on fire since March to protest Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama has said that China’s “ruthless policy” was behind the self-immolations.