By Mark Lever, AAP Diplomatic Correspondent

BEIJING, Sept 17 (AFP) - China has never ruled out talks with the Dalai Lama, but Tibet's spiritual leader has blocked all contact by refusing to renounce Tibetan independence, a Beijing official said Tuesday.

The statement, which came as the Dalai Lama visits Australia, was coupled with a stern warning that meetings with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate could have "undesirable effects" on China's relations with countries which insist on arranging officials meetings with him.

"The Dalai Lama often says he is ready to talk to China without pre-conditions and this assertion has deceived the international community and the leaders of certain countries," foreign ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said.

Shen's comments followed meetings this week between the Dalai Lama and New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger and Australia's Foreign Minsiter Alexander Downer during the spiritual leader's visit to Australasia.

"The Chinese government wants to have contacts with the Dalai Lama," Shen said at his bi-weekly press briefing here.

"The channels are open, but he has never said that he is opposed to Tibet becoming independent. The Australian and New Zealand governments should take note of this," the spokesman told journalists.

Shen said Beijing considered the Dalai Lama's actions as those of "a political refugee seeking to divide his country. He is not simply a religious leader," he added.

He pointed out that China therefore considered any official meeting with the Dalai Lama as "interference in China's internal affairs" which could have "undesirable effects" on ties between Beijing and the governments of those countries which choose to ignore its warnings.

China's foreign ministry warned Monday of possible retaliation over Downer's meeting and expressed its strong disapproval of the visit.

"We express our deep regret and strong dissatisfaction and we reserve the right for further response," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

But ignoring the threats, Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced in Indonesia on Tuesday he would meet the exiled spiritual leader next week.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet for northern India after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful struggle to liberate Tibet.