(XINHUA)

Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama and top ranking figure of Tibetan Buddhism currently in China, attended the third World Buddhist Forum (WBF) held in Hong Kong on April 25-27. This was the first time the 11th Panchen Lama attended activities outside the Chinese mainland.

Born in February 1990 at Lhari County in northern Tibet, he was confirmed and approved by the State Council, China's cabinet, as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama in November 1995, after the lot drawing from a sacred golden urn in strict compliance with religious rituals and conventions.

The 22-year-old Panchen Lama is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China. He attended the first and second WBF held in Zhejiang Province in 2006 and in Jiangsu Province in 2009, respectively.