Panchen Lama to make rare visit to Nepal after Tibet trip, reports say

The trip, which has not been confirmed by Beijing or Kathmandu, comes months before the Dalai Lama is expected to unveil a succession plan

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The current Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, was chosen by Chinese authorities and sits on the country’s top political advisory body. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:01pm, 12 Dec 2024

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 media reports.

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 Panchen 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.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in Beijing on December 3. Photo: Xinhua

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