CANBERRA, Sept 30 (Reuter) - Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama ended a two-week visit to Australia on Monday, leaving relations between Canberra and Beijing strained over his reception by national political leaders.

The Buddhist god-king flew back to India, where he has lived since fleeing his Himalayan homeland in 1959.

China last week threatened trade and diplomatic retaliation over the meeting between the Dalai Lama and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

But analysts and diplomats said any retaliation by Beijing would be limited and short-lived.

"I think both polical and trade relations will cool considerably for a short term, but I don't think it's a long-term thing," said Ian Wilson, a China expert at the Australian National University.

"They (the Chinese) have made their point, face is saved," added an Asian diplomat based in Australia.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also met the Dalai Lama during his visit. Australian officials have stressed that both meetings were unofficial and merely recognition of the Dalai Lama's role as a prominent religious leader.

Downer said the row was not raised during talks with his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen, in New York last Thursday.