Garmaba pays a visit to Beijing 　　Senior Chinese leader Li Ruihuan met on January 27 with one of Tibet's top spiritual leaders, O'kying Chilai, the 17th Living Buddha Garmaba. 　　The 14-year-old leader of the Garma Kagyudpa, or White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, seated at the Curbo Monastery near Lhasa, came to Beijing after paying a visit to several provinces. 　　"The healthy growth of Living Buddha Garmaba and his progress are very important to Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan religious believers, and will have great impact on the development and stability of Tibet," said Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. 　　The young Living Buddha has been diligent with himself and his monastery, and the Party Committee and government of the Tibet Autonomous Region have contributed a great deal to his healthy growth, Li said. 　　Li said he was glad to meet the young Living Buddha again and asked after his studies and daily life with concern, as well as his visits to Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. O'Kying Chilai is the first reincarnated Living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism approved by the central government since the CPC came to power in 1949. 　　Li encouraged the Living Buddha to love the country and his religion, and said he hopes the living Buddha will enjoy good health, both physically and intellectually. 　　He also offered best wishes for Tibet's continued economic growth, social development, and unity among all nationalities, and for a happy life for the Tibetan people. 　　Garmaba presented Li with a square of white silk, called a hada in Tibetan, which represents auspices and respect, while he chanted, " I Salute Chairman Li and wish you good health." 　　Gamaba briefed Li on his visit to the three provinces and pledged to follow the teachings of President Jiang Zemin and Chairman Li by studying hard, loving the country and the religion of Buddhism and devoting himself to the prosperity and ethnic unity of Tibet. 　　The young Living Buddha is regarded as the incarnation of the 16th Living Buddha Gamaba, and ascended to his holy throne in 1992 with the approval of the central government. HomeNews 1999-01-28 Page1 Full Story in Chinese