Beijing's Panchen Lama makes rare appearance

The boy chosen by Beijing as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's second-highest figure, met with China's top legislator in a rare public appearance and expressed support for the Communist Party, state media reported.

Gyaltsen Norbu presented Wu Bangguo with a long piece of silk as a gift during their meeting Thursday at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's legislature in the heart of Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency said late Thursday.

"He vowed to support the (Communist Party of China'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," Xinhua said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/31/china.panchen.ap/index.html