BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- You Quan, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu Tuesday in Beijing.

You extended new year greetings to Panchen Lama ahead of the traditional Spring Festival and the Tibetan new year, and Panchen Lama presented You with a traditional silk cloth to express his best wishes.

You encouraged Panchen Lama to continue progress in Buddhist research and cultural and ethical areas.

You also asked Panchen Lama to make new contributions to safeguard national unification and ethnic unity and adapt Tibetan Buddhism to socialist society.

Panchen Lama agreed with You and said that he will carry forward his predecessors' long-upheld tradition of patriotism and love of the religion.