BEIJING, Sept 11 (AFP) - China on Wednesday made a strong protest about the Dalai Lama's meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

A foreign ministry spokesman called on the New Zealand government to "correct its wrongdoing."

After Bolger met the exiled Tibertan leader in Wellington on Wednesday, ignoring previous warnings from China that it could damage relations.

The New Zealand government has insisted that the Dalai Lama is on a private visit and that the encounter with Bolger was as an international religious leader.

The Chinese embassy in Wellington had already issued a statement calling for the meeting to be cancelled and the New Zealand Ambassador in Beijing Chris Elder said Wednesday he had been called in by the Chinese foreign ministry at the end of last month to hear a protest.

The foreign ministry spokesman said: "We hope the New Zealand government will strictly abide by the obligations of the principle of 'one China' and take measures to correct its wrongdoing so as not to bring unneccessary interference to Sino-New Zealand relations."