BEIJING, Jan 31 (AFP) - Portraits of the child recognized by China as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second ranking religious leader, will soon be hung throughout Tibet, the Xinhua news agency said Friday.

The official news agency said portraits of Panchen Erdeni would be distributed "for the spiritual lives of Tibetans" and would be hung "in public places and in households."

The choice of the six-year-old by Beijing-approved Tibetan religious leaders has been contested by the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans who lives in exile in India. China banned portraits of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan temples and public places a year ago.

Panchen Erdini was selected by Beijing authorities as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, shortly after the exiled Dalai Lama named another six-year-old as the true reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.

Beijing has gone to great pains to justify its own choice, but the move sparked international concern over religious repression in Tibet and over the safety of the Dalai Lama's choice.

Last May, a high-ranking Chinese diplomat confirmed the Dalai Lama's choice was under protection from Chinese authorities to stop possible kidnapping from Tibetan separatists.

China's army invaded Tibet in 1951 and the Dalai Lam fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising.