Canada's parliament has granted honorary citizenship to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Members of parliament unanimously approved the measure --- marking only the third time that Canada has granted such a motion.
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela, and Raoul Wallenberg, who is credited for his role in saving the lives of Hungarian Jews during World War Two, have also received honorary citizenship from Canada.
The Dalai Lama is expected to visit Vancouver in September.
He has lived in exile since 1959, when he fled after a revolt against China's takeover of Tibet. China refuses to allow him to return, accusing him of being a separatist and working to split Tibet from the rest of China.
Members of parliament unanimously approved the measure --- marking only the third time that Canada has granted such a motion.
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela, and Raoul Wallenberg, who is credited for his role in saving the lives of Hungarian Jews during World War Two, have also received honorary citizenship from Canada.
The Dalai Lama is expected to visit Vancouver in September.
He has lived in exile since 1959, when he fled after a revolt against China's takeover of Tibet. China refuses to allow him to return, accusing him of being a separatist and working to split Tibet from the rest of China.