Beijing, September 25. Chinese government try to use the newly discovered incarnation of lama Karmapa as a tool of political propaganda; for that reason Chinese authorities gave a lot of publicity to the visit of the young lama to Beijing. According to the chinese official news agency Xinhua, "Luo Gan, secretary-general of the State Council, met the 17th Living Buddha Garmaba [Karmapa] today here hours after the latter flew in from Lhasa. On behalf of the State Council, Luo, who is also a state councillor, welcomed Garmaba's visiting of Beijing and congratulated that he has completed two years' activity of succession. He said that the central government is trying all it can to speed up Tibet's development. The government cadres much about the living Buddha's study and life; and the young Garmaba is well looked after by the Curbo [Tshurpu] Monastery, where he stays, and the Tibet Autonomous Region government. He hoped that the Garmaba would study hard and carry on the tradition of patriotism to become a patri

otic living Buddha with deep love for his religion. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, this afternoon paid a visit to the Buddha in the hotel he is staying in".

Beijing, September 26. According Xinhua news agency, "Zhao Puchu, president of the China Buddhist Association, met today the 17th Garmaba who is paying his first visit in the Chinese capital. The association president, who is 89 years old, inquired of the Garmaba's canon teacher about the current situation of the white sect of the Tibetan Buddhism, whose leader is the Garmaba. Thupbstan Bzangpo, the Garmaba's teacher, told Zhao that the Curbo Monastery, where the Garmaba stays, has been fully restored and old Buddhist scriptures have been re printed. He also told Zhao that the number of the Garmaba's disciples in Tibet has grown to several thousand. The teacher attributed all this to the freedom-to-believe policy, the state's subsidies and the followers' sacrifice".

Beijing, September 27. According to Xinhua news agency, "Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met the 17th Living Buddha Garmaba here today. Li Ruihuan, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese' Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, greeted Garmaba at Zhongnanhai, seat of the central government. The two exchanged katas (a piece of silk as a greeting gift among the Tibetans) and extended best wishes to each other... The central government attaches great importance to Tibet and the whole country is very supportive of the development of the autonomous region, I.i Ruihuan said, adding that Tibet will surely make more headways in reforms, development and social stability, following the holding of the third conference on the work of Tibet in Beijing recently. China adopts a free-to-believe policy, Li said. Religious belief is respected under the law and religious activities are well protected if conducted

in accordance with the law and relevant policies, the noted. Believers and non-believers as well as followers of different religious sects should respect one another and unite, said Li Ruihuan. He stressed that Tibet is an integral part of China. It is the duty of all Chinese to safeguard national unity, said Li Ruihuan, who called for unremitting efforts to uphold the unity of China's all nationalities and the motherland. Li Ruihuan urged that the Garmaba be well looked after and expressed his thanks to the living buddha's teacher and his parents for their care about the 10-year-old Buddha. The 17th Living Buddha Garmaba said he was glad to be in Beijing just before China's 45th founding anniversary and expressed his best wishes to the Chinese leaders".

Beijing, September 29. According Xinhua news agency, "The 17th Living Buddha Garmaba performed his first major religious activity today in Yonghegong, the largest lamasery in the Chinese capital. The temple, having a history of 250 years, was jammed with large number of pilgrims, resounding with religious music. The young Garmaba was received by nearly 100 lamas dressed in their holy best. The Garmaba prostrated himself before the statue of the Tsongkhaba, the founder of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, who is respected by monks in Yonghegong. The Garmaba himself is the leader of the white Sect of Tibetan Buddhism... Then, the Living Buddha came to another altar, chanting with his disciplcs olemn scriptures before a 26-metre-high statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. At this moment, the lamasery saw the arrival of more visitors and disciples, old and young, domestic and from abroad. All were eager to have a close look closer at the living Buddha, who posed before cameras and smiled mildly. The l0

-year-old Living Buddha has had meetings with senior Chinese leaders, visited a steel company, toured historical sites, in addition to religious activities in Beijing over the past few days".

Beijing, September 29. According to Xinhua news agency, "Chen Xitong, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, today welcomed the 17th Iiving Buddha Garmaka at a banquet hosted by the Beijing municipal government. On behalf of some 10 million people of the capital city, he presented the Garmaba, the holy leader of the White Sect of Lamaism, with an incense burner, a colour television set and two picture albums about Beijing. The Garmaba in return presented Chen, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, with a statue of Buddha drawn on a piece of cloth. Li Zhijiau, deputy secretary of the city party committee, hold the Living Buddha that now there are 1,300 Tibetans working, studying and living in the Chinese capital. Beijing has built up a Tibetan middle school and it is to set up a Tibetan mansion shortly". (EuroTibet News N·3)