He is a Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Honorary President of the Buddhist Association of China.

[1] As a Tibetan tulku (incarnate lama), he is notable for his willingness to work in the Chinese government, except during the Cultural Revolution.

[2] Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai was born in February 1940 in Litang County, in present-day Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province.

[citation needed] In 1956 he became a member of the Tibet Autonomous Region Preparatory Committee, and appointed its Vice Chairman in 1960.

[1] As a Tibetan tulku, he is notable for his willingness to work in the Chinese government since boyhood, except during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976),[2] when he was sent to perform manual labour.