Was this a display of political or polite correctness?
Prime Minister John Howard shared a humorous moment with the Dalai Lama during their much anticipated meeting at the PM's Sydney offices.
As Mr Howard attempted to usher his celebrated guest through a door of his office for the pair's closed meeting, both refused to enter before the other.
"You go first," said the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader, resisting Mr Howard's entreaties and gesturing towards the door.
"Guests always go first," said Mr Howard.
"No, you first," said the guest.
"No, no, guests always go first," said the PM.
"We'll go together," said the Dalai Lama.
"No, it's too hard," Mr Howard said.
Eventually, Mr Howard had his way, with his guest leading him into the office for talks that China has warned could damage Australia's relations with Beijing.
Mr Howard had been checking his diary for more than a month before his office finally confirmed on Tuesday that a meeting time had been found.
That led to the warning from Beijing, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist activist.
During an earlier press conference, Mr Howard was asked whether he would seek any spiritual guidance from his holiness.
"I'm always happy to meet significant international figures and we will discuss matters temporal as well as spiritual," Mr Howard told reporters.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd met the Dalai Lama on Tuesday.
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