Panchen Lama to make rare visit to Nepal

KATHMANDU– The Panchen Lama,  Tibet‘s second highest religious figure who sits on China’s top political advisory body, will make a rare visit to Nepal, according to Nepalese news sources.

It comes just months before the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, is expected to reveal a succession plan. That plan is likely to be contested by Beijing, which sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist pushing for Tibetan independence.

Gyaincain Norbu – the  Panchrn Lama chosen by Chinese authorities – will visit Nepal on a four-day trip from Saturday to attend the South China Sea Buddhism Round Table, news site Nepal Aaja reported on Tuesday.

The visit to Nepal, which is home to a large population of ethnic Tibetans, has not been confirmed by either the Chinese or Nepalese governments.

It follows a visit to China last week by Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, when he told Chinese Premier Li Qiang that Kathmandu regards Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of China and that Tibet-related affairs are China’s internal affairs.

The purpose of the Panchen Lama’s visit is “religious harmony”, an official with the Nepalese government’s Lumbini Development Trust told news sources.

The Panchen Lama is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as well as vice-president of the state-backed Buddhist Association.

He has just spent five months in Tibet promoting traditional Chinese culture and national unity, state news agency Xinhua reported last week.

Nepal will be just his second foreign trip after a visit to Thailand in 2019.

It comes as the Dalai Lama could soon unveil a succession plan. He has previously said that he would address the issue of his reincarnation – a constant source of tension between Beijing and the Dalai Lama – after he turns 90 in July.