BEIJING, Feb 27 (AFP) - The child chosen by Beijing as the reincarnation of Tibet's second ranking religious leader voiced his grief Thursday over the death last week of patriach Deng Xiaoping.

"Deng's great accomplishments will be remembered forever by the Tibetan people and the Chinese people from other ethnic groups," the six-year-old Panchen Lama, Erdeni Qoigyijadu, was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

Panchen Erdini was controversially selected by Chinese authorities as the 11th Panchen Lama in late 1995, shortly after Tibet's top spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama had named another child as the true reincarnation.

In order to demonstrate his respect for Deng, Panchen Erdini said he would "make good use of his time, study hard and become a living Buddha who pledges his love to his country and Buddhism."

Deng was in command of the military operation to "liberate" Tibet in 1951, when Chinese troops poured into the Himalayan region.

The Dalai Lama feld into exile in India following a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule.