TAIPEI - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Friday met with former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui and complimented him for his role in Taiwan's democratization.
The Dalai Lama also thanked Lee for strengthening ties with the Tibetan exile community during his 12-year rule and for allowing him to establish a representative office in Taipei in 1997, known as the Tibet Religious Foundation of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Lee's private office said in a statement.
Lee, who retired from the political stage in May last year, is now the honorary president of the Taiwan Research Institute, a private think tank.
Emerging from the meeting, which took place at the institute in Tanshui, north of Taipei, the Dalai Lama likened his relationship with Lee to that of brothers.
He told the crowd of waiting reporters he was happy to have been able to meet Lee again.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate boarded a limousine that spirited him to a Taipei hotel where he was to give a lecture before local business leaders including Nita Ing, chairwoman of Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.
The two leaders first met during the Dalai Lama's first visit to Taiwan in 1997 when Lee was president.
They met again at an international conference in Prague last year.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly voiced his admiration for Lee, whom China in the past has accused of colluding with the Dalai Lama to divide China.
Upon arrival in Taiwan on March 31 for a 10-day visit he described Lee as the first Chinese leader who emerged ''through genuine elections'' and called him an ''old friend.''
''I admire him, I respect him because he is the person who really implemented democratic reforms,'' he said at the time.
More than 10,000 people have been attending the Dalai Lama's daily lectures on Tibetan Buddhism at a sports stadium in Linkou, outside Taipei.
China has denounced the visit, claiming it aims to ''collaborate with separatist forces in Taiwan'' and raise funds for ''separatist activities.''
Although religious activities are at the focus of the Dalai Lama's visit, he has met with President Chen Shui-bian as well as opposition leaders Lien Chan and James Soong, while Vice President Annette Lu attended one of his lectures.
Before leaving Taiwan on Monday he is also slated to meet Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and Frank Hsieh, chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
AP-NY-04-06-01 0625EDT
Copyright 2001 The Kyodo News Service.