BEIJING, April 15 (AFP) - China issued a gentle warning Tuesday to Spain and France to tread carefully over visits by exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

"We hope that Spain and other western countries will respect their commitments on the issue of Tibet," foreign ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, is currently in Spain and scheduled to travel Wednesday to France for a five-day visit.

"The question of Tibet should not be allowed to damage relations between China and these countries," Shen said.

The relatively mild warning reflected the fact that the Dalai Lama had no scheduled meetings with national government officials during his tour of either country.

In Barcelona on Sunday, the Dalai Lama said he would be willing to renounce in the short-term the cause of Tibetan independence, if Beijing could guarantee the establishment of an autonomous Tibetan government.

However, Shen poured scorn on his remarks.

"We know that the Dalai Lama often says during his trips oversaeas that his obejective is not Tibetan independence, but he has never made such a statement through the communications channels open with us," Shen said.

"He does this only to fool international opinion," Shen said, adding that the Dalai Lama should be regarded as a political exile rather than a religious figure.