President Hu Jintao met yesterday with the 11th Panchen Lama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the eve of the young religious leader's 15th birthday.

The 11th Panchen Lama presents a hada, a Tibetan symbol for respect and happiness, to President Hu Jintao in Beijing yesterday. [Xinhua]

Hu asked about his progress in religious and academic studies and encouraged him to learn from his predecessor, the 10th Panchen, to be "a living Buddha with full love to the country and his religion.

"I have had quite a number of contacts with the 10th Panchen Lama," said the president, who once served as Party chief in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

"By telling you this, I hope you will follow the example of His Holiness to be another model of loving the country and the religion," Hu said.

The 11th Panchen Lama, although just 14, looks grown up. He spoke with ease for around 10 minutes on his recent study progress at religious and academic lessons. He is studying middle-school lessons with his personal tutors.

Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, whose religious name is Jizun Losang Qamba Lhunzhub Qoigyijabu Baisangbu, was born on the 19th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan Calendar Year (February 13, 1990) in Lhari County in northern Tibet.

He was confirmed and approved by the State Council as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama on November 29, 1995 after drawing lots from a golden urn according to tradition. In 1996, he was installed to the seat of Panchen Lama.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The central government will further strengthen its assistance and support for the region, Hu said, adding that he believes Tibetan people will have better living conditions.