81-year old Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Mongolia on November 18, 2016, to begin a four-day visit despite strong objections by Beijing. He was received at the airport by government representatives, senior monks of Mongolian monasteries, and the Indian ambassador. Mongolian officials described it as a religious visit to a predominantly Buddhist country. China had earlier demanded that Mongolia not allow the Dalai Lama to enter the country, saying that relations with China—on which Mongolia heavily depends for trade and investment—would be harmed if the visit goes ahead.