Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, February 10, 2002
Li Ruihuan Meets 11th Panchen Lama
Senior Chinese leader Li Ruihuan Saturday met Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama. Li said the 11th Panchen has made progress in various areas thanks to the care and support of the Party's leadership and departments concerned, and the 11th Panchen Lama expressed his gratitude to the Party and the central government for their care of and attention to him.
Senior Chinese leader Li Ruihuan Saturday met Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama.
The meeting between Li and the 11th Panchen took place just before the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year and the Tibetan New Year, known as the Year of the Iron Snake by the Tibetan calendar.
Li, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presented a gift to the 11th Panchen, and offered his congratulations on the latter's 12th birthday.
The 11th Panchen also offered gifts to Li Ruihuan, who said the 11th Panchen has made progress in various areas thanks to the care and support of the Party's leadership and departments concerned.
The 11th Panchen Lama expressed his gratitude to the Party and the central government for their care of and attention to him.
The 11th Panchen ascended the throne in 1995 at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in southwest China 's Tibet Autonomous Region with the approval of the central government, and after a series of verifications, as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
Living Buddha: Witness of Tibet's Changes
"I have witnessed, with great pleasure, the historic changes in Tibet," said Bomi Qambalozhub, a renowned living Buhhda, in an interview with Xinhua in Lhasa.
"I have witnessed all the great changes in Tibet after its peaceful liberation 50 years ago," said Qambalozhub.
As a highly reputed living Buddha, Qambalozhub is very proud of having presided over the ceremony for the reincarnation of tenth Panchen Lama. As the teacher of Buddhist scriptures for Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama, Qambalozhub said the new Panchen Lama has won the faith and support of all the people in Tibet and all other Buddhists.
"The reincarnation itself shows the great care and support from the central government," he said. (In Detail)