On Dec.14, the Panchen Lama left Tibet for Beijing after finishing his religious and social activities.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

Panchen Erdeni Qoigyijabu, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, has left Shigatse and returned to Beijing after a successful trip on Dec.14, China Tibet News Network reported. Following is a review of his trip to Tibet:

On Nov. 24, the Panchen Lama arrived in Lhasa. On Nov. 26 he worshipped Buddha Sakyamuni and blessed the monks by touching their heads in Jokhang Temple. He also visited the "Exhibition on Tibet Autonomous Region’s 50 Years of Achievements."

On Dec. 1, the Panchen took the train for the first time from Lhasa to Shigatse, the Panchen Lama’s residence. He bowed to statues of Buddha Sakyamuni and Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect Founder Tsongkhapa and recited scriptures together with the monks. He also received the senior monks’ worships and was met by Shigatse municipal leaders.

On Dec. 4, the Panchen Lama offered his condolences and gifts to people affected by the earthquake occurred on April 25 this year in the settlements of the Shigatse Industrial Park.

On Dec.7, the Panchen Lama gave blessings to the masses by touching their heads in Shigatse.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

On Dec. 6， the Panchen Lama held talks with Shigatse government leaders to learn Shigatse's economic and social development. He said that Shigatse is enjoying ethnic unity, religious harmony and economic development，which should be contributed to the Party, the Central Government and the inland provinces for their aid to Tibet. As a religious figure and a member of the CPPCC National Committee, he will try his best to serve Shigatse in religious affairs in the future.

On Dec. 8, the 20th anniversary of the Panchen Lama’s enthronement took place at Tashilhunpo Monastery. In his speech, the Panchen Lama expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Party and the State Council for their concern for him. He added that, Tashilhunpo held a grand enthronement ceremony on Dec. 8, 1995 to officially pass on the Panchen’s lineage to him, which reflects the full implementation of the Party’s policy of religious freedom, the Central Government’s historical authority toward reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhism; and the deep concern the CPC Central Committee and State Council has toward Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people. He vowed to live up to the expectations of the country and people.

On Dec. 10, the Panchen Lama attended a charity event at Tashilhunpo. He said that, since his enthronement the Central Government and Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee have extended him so much care, and recently he was elected him Chairman of the Tibet Development Foundation. He would be patriotic and ready to meet the need of masses in their religious beliefs, and make his own contribution to Tibet’s poverty reduction.

On Nov. 29, 1995, the ceremony of "drawying lots from the golden urn" for the Tenth Panchen Lama’s reincarnation took place in front of the Buddha Sakyamuni in Jokhang Temple by strictly following Tibetan Buddhism’s religious rituals and historical conventions. Gyaltsen Norbu who became the reincarnation of the Tenth Panchen Lama with the approval from the Central Government, was succeeded as the Eleventh Panchen Erdeni.