Sun Chunlan (L front), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Sun Chunlan met with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu on Tuesday, lauding his patriotism and increasing influence in the Tibetan Buddhism society.

Sun, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, asked the Panchen Lama to make contribution to national unification and ethnic solidarity.

Regarding the 20th anniversary of the Panchen Lama's enthronement and his increasing influence within the Tibetan Buddhism society, Sun said it was the result of diligence and commitment to his studies.

Sun expressed the hope that the Panchen Lama will follow the instructions of the CPC Central Committee's general secretary Xi Jinping during their meeting in June last year and carry forward the fine tradition of his predecessors.

The Panchen Lama said he will bear in mind the care from the CPC Central Committee and the central government as well as Xi's instructions.

He vowed to work hard to help "Tibetan Buddhism better incorporated into socialist society" and promote Tibet's prosperity, harmony and stability.