WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama Friday morning at the White House.

The White House made the announcement Thursday while releasing Obama's daily schedule, adding the meeting would be closed to press.

China holds that the Dalai Lama is in nature a political exile who has been engaged in secessionist activities in the name of religion.

The country opposes any foreign leader's meeting with the Dalai Lama in any form and any country's or anyone's interference in China's internal affairs by using the Dalai Lama.

It will be the third time that Obama meets with the Dalai Lama. Their previous meetings in February 2010 and July 2011, respectively, drew strong protests from China.