BERN, Sept 16 (AFP) - A senior Chinese official on an official visit to Switzerland was challenged Monday by a group of Tibetan demonstrators as he arrived for a meeting at the federal parliament in Bern.

The demonstrators confronted a Chinese delegation headed by Li Ruihuan, the head of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, as it arrived at the building under police escort.

The Tibetan crowd then broke up without violence. The Chinese official, who will spend five days in Switzerland, was scheduled Monday to meet with the speakers of the two chambers of Swiss parliament and with President Jean-Pascal Delamuraz.

On Tuesday Li will meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Flavio Cotti. The two will discuss a wide range of issues, including human rights and bilateral relations, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said.

The Chinese delegation will visit several companies, including Nestle and Omega.