BEIJING, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- China on Thursday summoned the acting head of the U.S. Embassy to lodge a strong protest against President Clinton's meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Deputy Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told Charge 'd Affairs Scott Hallford that Wednesday's meeting in Washington constituted "gross interference" in China's internal affairs, and demanded that the United States refrain from further actions that could damage bilateral ties.

Clinton briefly joined talks between the Dalai Lama and Vice President Al Gore, marking the second time in less than a year the Dalai Lama has met with both U.S. leaders.

Chinese troops invaded Tibet in 1950 and the Dalai Lama fled into exile after an abortive uprising in 1959.

Li told Hallford the issue of Tibet "brooks no foreign interference, " Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Jian told a news conference.

The meetings in Washington represented "a connivance at and support for the Dalai Lama's clamor for the independence of Tibet and his political activities aimed at splitting the motherland," Chen quoted Li as saying.

"The Chinese government and people express their utmost indignation and strong displeasure at such U.S. action," Li told Hallford.

The United States should "stop using the question of Tibet to interfere in the internal affairs of China," Li said, warning that "any more incidents" could only undermine bilateral relations.

The meeting came amid a fragile recovery in Sino-U.S. relations, which plunged to their lowest point in 16 years following Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States in June.

Beijing has yet to send back to its ambassador to Washington, Li Daoyu, who was recalled to protest Lee's trip.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing is without an ambassador following the departure of Stapleton Roy, who vacated the post only days later.

A White House statement Wednesday said Clinton met the Dalai Lama to "express his concern for the preservation of Tibetan religion and culture."

The dalai lama has called on China and the United States to repair their relationship and has urged the Clinton administration to push China into talks with the Tibetan government-in-exile in India.

China has refused, accusing the dalai lama last month of supporting "underground counter-revolutionary groups plotting to overthrow the government through acts of sabotage that directly endanger social stability and economic development."

Beijing has also refused to recognize the Dalai Lama's spiritual authority, and in May rejected his confirmation of a 6-year-old boy as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's second- highest leader.