The following is the biographical sketch of Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, who was just elected vice-chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC):

Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai

Male, born in 1940, of Tibetan ethnic group, native of Litang, Sichuan Province, with a university education.

Recognized as 11th Pagbalha Hutugtu (incarnation of living Buddha) of Qangdin Lamasery in Tibet in 1942.

First vice-chairman of Qamdo Prefecture People's Liberation Committee in 1950-1952; studied Buddhist sutra in a Tibet Lamasery in 1952-1956.

Member of Standing Committee of Preparatory Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region and vice-chairman of regional Religious Affairs Committee in 1956-1959.

Vice-chairman of Preparatory Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region, chairman of regional Religious Affairs Committee, commissioner of Changdu Prefecture Commissioner's Office and vice-chairman of CPPCC National Committee in 1959-1965.

Vice-chairman of People's Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region,of CPPCC Tibet Committee and National Committee in 1965-1979.

Vice-president of Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Government,Standing Committee vice-chairman of Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress and of CPPCC Tibet Committee, vice-president of Buddhist Association of China and honorary president of its Tibet branch, vice-chairman of CPPCC National Committee and chairman of CPPCC Tibet Committee in 1979-1993.

Vice-chairman of Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), chairman of CPPCC Tibet Committee, and vice-president and honorary president of Buddhist Association of China since 1993.

Deputy to 2nd to 5th NPC; vice-chairman of Standing Committee of 8th and 9th NPC.

Vice-chairman of 3rd to 7th CPPCC National Committee.