Panchen Lama pays formal visit to top legislator

BEIJING—The 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu paid a formal visit to China’s top legislator Wu Bangguo in Beijing on Thursday. Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), extended greetings for the Spring Festival and the new year under the Tibetan calendar.
Wu congratulated the Panchen Lama on his achievements and improvements in all areas and called on him to further study policies made in the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wu encouraged the living Buddha to take responsibility to enhance China’s reunification and do more things that could benefit the country.
Wu also urged the Panchen Lama, one of the most influential religious leaders in Tibet, to constantly improve Buddhism’s accomplishments and seriously follow Buddhist taboos. During the visit, which was held in the Great Hall of People at the heart of Beijing, the living Buddha presented a had a (a long piece of silk used as a greeting gift) respectfully to the top Chinese legislator.
The Panchen Lama said that he had gained in-depth understanding of the CPC’s pursuit of interest for the common people after attending the 17th CPC National Congress as a non-voting delegate. He vowed to support the CPC’s leadership and make more contributions to the Tibetan economy and social harmony by guiding more religious work to adapt to China’s socialist society.
The 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu prayed for earlier reunification of China during his recent visit to eastern Fujian Province, which is opposite to Taiwan across the Taiwan Straits.
He expressed the belief that China is destined to realize the national reunification at an earlier date under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).—Xinhua