(TibetanReview.net, Aug08’26) – The Chinese government-installed “11th Panchen Lama” Gyaltsen Norbu has on Aug 3 met with the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Party Secretary Mr Wang Junzheng to receive an earful about his duties to work for the assimilation of Tibet, the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, and to unite the Tibetan people as loyal subjects of the Communist Party of China-state. It’s a tall order for a man whose standing as the “Panchen Lama” is all too well known to be dubious at best.
Wang Junzheng, on behalf of the Party Committee of the TAR, welcomed “Panchen Rinpoche’s” visit for official duties, inspection, and religious activities, and wished him a happy birthday and good health, reported China’s online Tibet news service eng.tibet.cn Aug 6.
Wang was then stated to have reminded Gyaltsen Norbu that in Jun 2025, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping had received him and encouraged him to become a learned and respected Tibetan Buddhist incarnation, like the 10th Panchen Lama, to make greater contributions to promoting national unity, religious harmony, and stability and development in Tibet.
Wang has praised Gyaltsen Norbu for having deeply remembered Xi’s instructions and actively promoted and successful implemented his new era Tibet work policy over the past year. He has also praised Gyaltsen Norbu for having actively promoted the Chinese Buddhist Association’s efforts to promote the Sinicization and healthy development of of Tibetan Buddhism, uniting efforts and showcasing the positive image of a Tibetan Buddhist incarnation.
At the same time, Wang was stated to have expressed hope that Gyaltsen Norbu, as the “11th Panchen Lama”, could thoroughly learn, understand, and implement the important instructions of Xi, fulfil his duties conscientiously, and exert his utmost efforts to become a great person.
Wang was stated to have emphasized the importance of strengthening political stance, enhancing political leadership, deepening political awareness, and guiding the broad masses of monks, nuns, and devout public to deeply understand the decisive significance of the “Two Determinations” and to conduct in-depth learning of the Party’s innovative theoretical system. (The “Two Determinations” established Xi as China’s “core” leader and his ideas as China’s bedrock official doctrine.)
Wang has also urged Gyaltsen Norbu for the protection of national and ethnic unity, the continuation and development of the patriotic, religious, and nation-serving tradition of the successive Panchen Lamas, and the consistent upholding of the great banner of patriotism. Additionally, he has encouraged deepening the love for the Party, the country, and socialism, as well as promoting ethnic unity and progress, and conducting in-depth publicity and education on the law related to the promotion of ethnic unity and progress.
Wang has said the goal is to guide monks, nuns, and devout masses in firmly establishing the awareness of a united Chinese nation and continuously deepening their “Five Loves.” (This was an ideological and moral slogan promoted by the CCP during the Maoist era, designed to shape the mindset of the ideal “socialist man”).
Wang has also reminded Gyaltsen Norbu, as the “11th Panchen Lama”, to uphold the direction of Sinicization of the country’s religion, comprehensively implement the Party’s basic policy on religious affairs, strengthen the interpretation of the essence and discipline of Tibetan Buddhism through reasoning, and deeply publicize laws and regulations such as the Regulations on Religious Affairs in the Tibet Autonomous Region. He was stated to have been asked to diligently perform his duties and connect Tibetan Buddhism with the country’s future, the fate of the nation, and the aspirations of the people.
The TAR Party Secretary has further told Gyaltsen Norbu to guide the broad masses of monks and nuns, and believers to actively participate in the construction of a new socialist modern Tibet, and lead in adhering to the “Four Standards”. (This requires believers to have “genuine proficiency” in the Buddhist teachings, to be “politically reliable,” to be ready to “serve the masses,” and to be “dependable during critical moments,” meaning potential outbreaks of dissent.)
On his part, Gyaltsen Norbu has praised the tremendous changes that had taken place in Tibet. He has assured Wang that he always keeps in mind the deep entrustment of General Secretary Xi, and constantly strives to improve his political quality, and his understanding of the party’s ethnic and religious theories and policies, to be able to make Tibetan Buddhism compatible with socialist society and contribute to the strength of making it adapt to society.
He has vowed to deepen his practice of Buddhism, improve the academic level of Buddhism through preaching, teaching, and interpretation, to let the people of Tibet know the care and love of the party and the government, and unite religious figures with the party and government. He has undertaken to actively seek solutions and contribute to the construction of a new, modern, socialist Tibet, and guide the monks and believers to protect national unity, ethnic unity, and religious harmony, and make contributions to the long-term stability and high-quality development of Tibet.
Gyaltsen Norbu lives in Beijing under the watchful eyes of the United Front Work Department of the CCP. He tours Tibet under its supervision for around six months each year to promote – currently – the assimilation of Tibet and Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism. He arrived in Lhasa on Jul 30 and the meeting with Wang took place on the day he began his official duties.