The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, promised to speak on behalf of the people as a political advisor to the Chinese government Wednesday.

He made his remarks during his first public speech at the ongoing annual session of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body.

"As political advisors from the religious circle of the CPPCC, we should live up to the trust of the government and the people," he said while joining a panel discussion of the circle.

"All religions aim at bringing a better spiritual life and guiding people to perform good deeds, thus to benefit both the country and its people," he added.

The 11th Panchen Lama, as one of the two most senior living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, became a CPPCC National Committee member on Feb. 28.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2010)