A senior official met with 11 monks Tuesday in Beijing, asking them to contribute to the unity of the country and harmony among different ethnic groups.

"We hope the monks, outstanding in Buddhism study, will love the country, abide by laws, follow religious disciplines and serve the people, " said Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The monks are expected to work for the stability of Tibet and Tibetan people outside Tibet, he said.

The monks attended a year-long program on Buddhism study in the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China and took the six-day debate and exam on Buddhist sutras before gaining their academic title on Monday at a ceremony in a temple in Beijing.

The 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu, one of Tibet's most senior living Buddhas, was present to bless the monks and judges. About 300 other monks and believers attended the ceremony as well.

The Buddhism study program was launched in 2004. It combines traditional learning with modern education to create a universal standard of academic titles among different schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2008)