Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama, has been elected as the president of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Branch of the Buddhist Association of China, replacing Zhukang Tubdankezhub.

Zhukang Tubdankezhub, who turns 64 this year and had led the regional branch of the Buddhist Association of China from 2003, and Sonam Rinzin were both elected executive vice presidents of the regional branch at a plenary session held Saturday in Lhasa, the regional capital of Tibet.

Eighteen others were elected as vice presidents of the regional branch of the Buddhist Association of China.

Among the regional branch's leadership, 16 were reelected and five were newly elected. The oldest is 78 years old. 

The leadership represents Buddhism sects of Gelug, Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Bon.

Phagpalha Gelegnamgyal was again invited to be the honorary president of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Branch of the Buddhist Association of China.

The 11th Panchen Lama, 29, is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and vice president of the Buddhist Association of China.