The leader ofTibet's exiled government criticised yesterday the Norwegian government's decision not to meet the Dalai Lama, saying it should have resisted Chinese pressure.

"It's unfortunate that the Norwegian leadership did not meet with the Dalai Lama because of the tremendous pressure of the Chinese government," Lobsang Sangay said in the northern Indian hill station of Dharamsala where he was launching a fresh campaign for autonomy for Tibetans in China.

"Norway always has 10 percent surplus in its economy," said Sangay, prime minister of die exiled government. "Of all the countries, Norway should be the least dependent on the Chinese economy," he told AFP.

"It seems unfortunate diat the incident has happened which is clearly sad."

Oslo has described its decision to snub die revered spiritual leader during a three-day trip to the country last month as a "necessary sacrifice" to normalise its relations with China.

Beijing stopped all high-level contact with Norway after the Nobel Peace Prize was given to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaboboin 2010.

Oslo has faced public criticism for its decision to avoid the Tibetan spiritual leader who was in the country to