Tibetan official defends reincarnation system, slams Dalai Lama

A senior Tibetan official on Monday slammed the Dalai Lama's recent claim that the Tibetan Buddhism tradition of reincarnation should cease with his death, saying that the religion and history should be respected.

Padma Choling, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress, also stressed that door for dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama is always open.

He made the remarks after a panel discussion with other Tibetan lawmakers at China's annual parliamentary session in Beijing.[Special coverage]