BEIJING, Sept 12 (Reuter) - A visit to New Zealand by Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will damage relations between Wellington and Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Shen Guofang also told reporters that a meeting between New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger and the Tibetan leader was an interference in China's internal affairs.

"We have paid great attention to his (the Dalai Lama's) meetings with New Zealand leaders," Shen told a regular news briefing. "This clearly interferes in China's internal affairs and will definitely affect relations between China and New Zealand."

The Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel peace prize, has led a peaceful campaign for real autonomy for the remote Himalayan region.

China insists the Dalai Lama is leading a pro-independence cause and routinely objects to leaders of other states meeting him.

"The Dalai Lama is not a purely religious figure. He has shown his greatest interest in splitting the nation," Shen said.

Beijing maintains it has ruled Tibet for centuries but many Tibetans dispute this, and the region has been rocked by periodic outbursts of separatist violence.

The Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

Shen said he hoped that both the New Zealand and Australian governments would respect Beijing's position on Tibet.

The Dalai Lama recently visited Australia where he also met senior government officials.