BEIJING, March 2 (AFP) - China Sunday launched a bitter attack on two of its most biggest foes, the Dalai Lama and Taiwan, according to a report by the official Xinhua news agency.

The chairman of China's Tibetan Autonomous Regional Government, Gyaincain Norbu, said Beijing's long-time enemies were working together against the interests of the "motherland," Xinhua said.

"The Dalai clique has engaged in activities to split the motherland and advocate the so-called independence of Tibet in the world," Norbu said of the Tibetan spiritual leader, who lives in exile in India.

"It has also colluded with the Taiwan authorities, worked hand in glove and publicly wallowed in the mire with each other."

Taiwan, which China has regarded as a renegade province since nationalists fled there at the end of a civil war in 1949, is to play host to a private visit by the Dalai Lama in late March.

China invaded Tibet in 1951 and the Dalai Lama and many of his followers fled to India in 1959 after an abortive anti-Chinese revolt.

"The facts show that the Dalai clique has gone farther on the road of splitting the motherland," Norbu added, speaking at the annual meeting of the National People's Congree in Beijing.

Norbu said Tibet was prospering under Chinese rule and that its people were happy.

"The loving attention of the central authorities and support rendered by the people throughout the country have filled the Tibetan people with enthusiasm and confidence for united efforts to accelerate the development," he said.

"The Western hostile forces are reluctant to see a strong and developed China and so is the Dalai clique to see a new socialist Tibet marked by unity, happiness and great ethical progress."

Xinhua added: "According to official statistics, the central government has invested more than 40 billion yuan since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951."