Panchen Lama Meets Xi: Rare Beijing Talks
- Gyaltsen Norbu, the Panchen Lama appointed by Beijing, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, promising to uphold the communist Party's directives.
- Norbu, age 35, stated he would "firmly support the leadership" of the party and "resolutely safeguard the unity of the motherland," according to Xinhua news Agency. His Tashilhumpo...
- China selected Norbu as the Panchen Lama in 1995, when he was 5 years old.
In a notable move, china’s Panchen lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, pledged allegiance to the Communist Party during a rare meeting with President Xi Jinping. this face-to-face encounter underscores Beijing’s strategy to tighten its grip on Tibetan Buddhism and maintain political stability. Norbu vowed to support the party’s leadership and safeguard national unity, highlighting the increasing influence of the “sinicisation” of religion. The meeting, held in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai, also brings to light the ongoing complexities surrounding the Dalai Lama and the missing Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who remains unrecognized by many. the appointment of the primarykeyword Panchen Lama by China and his role in identifying the next Dalai Lama is crucial to understanding China’s influence over Tibetan Buddhism, while secondarykeyword religious freedom remains a subject of concern. Read more about this story on News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as the world watches.
china’s Panchen Lama Pledges Allegiance to Communist Party
Updated June 06, 2025
Gyaltsen Norbu, the Panchen Lama appointed by Beijing, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, promising to uphold the communist Party’s directives. The rare,face-to-face meeting took place in Zhongnanhai,the government compound in Beijing.
Norbu, age 35, stated he would “firmly support the leadership” of the party and “resolutely safeguard the unity of the motherland,” according to Xinhua news Agency. His Tashilhumpo monastery is roughly 2,300 miles from Beijing.
China selected Norbu as the Panchen Lama in 1995, when he was 5 years old. This followed the Dalai Lama’s recognition of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the Panchen Lama’s reincarnation. Nyima and his family then disappeared.
The U.S. government has alleged that the Chinese government abducted Nyima. The Dalai Lama, age 89, has not recognized Norbu as the Panchen Lama.
xinhua quoted Norbu as saying he would ”contribute to promoting national unity and progress, systematically promote the sinicisation of religion in China, and promote the modernisation of Tibet.”
The term “sinicisation,” as used by Xi’s government, means religions must follow the communist Party’s lead, diminish non-Chinese elements, and limit their societal influence.
Xi reportedly told Norbu to maintain Tibetan Buddhism’s “strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” while advancing “sinicisation” and “promoting the modernisation of Tibet.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement last month, marking 30 years as Nyima’s disappearance, asserting that Chinese authorities abducted him and his family.
“Chinese authorities should release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima instantly and stop persecuting Tibetans for their religious beliefs,” Rubio said.
The Panchen Lama’s position is critical, as he is expected to help identify the next Dalai Lama and serve as his tutor. the Communist Party, which is officially atheist, aims to control this religious process.
Friday’s meeting underscores Xi’s focus on domestic economic and political stability. China’s economic slowdown has fueled concerns about potential unrest, and the government remains intensely focused on controlling minority groups.
What’s next
The international community will likely continue to monitor China’s influence over Tibetan Buddhism and the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.