The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, said Tuesday he appreciated the Singaporean Buddhist community's active charity and contributions to harmony between different religious groups.

The Panchen Lama, also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, made the remarks at a meeting with Singapore Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo and Singaporean Buddhist figures at Xi Huang Monastery in Beijing.

The Panchen Lama said meeting with Singaporean friends would deepen the relationship and cooperation of the two countries' Buddhist communities, and the Xi Huang Monastery had become an important platform for cultural exchanges between Han and Tibetan people.

Yong-Boon Yeo said many Singaporean citizens who had travelled to Tibet believed that Tibet had a rapidly growing economy and was becoming a better place.

After the meeting, the Singaporean delegation toured the Xi Huang Monastery.