The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (front R) attends the 8th National Congress of the China Buddhism Association in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 1, 2010. (Xinhua/Li Tao)  Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 600 delegates from China's religious circles attended the eighth national conference of the Buddhist Association of China in Beijing on Monday.

    The conference will consider the association's work since the seventh national conference in 2002, amend the association's constitution and elect a new leadership.

The 8th National Congress of the China Buddhism Association is held in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 1, 2010. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Photo Gallery>>>

    Wang Zuo'an, director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, spoke at the conference's opening ceremony and urged the association to guide the healthy development of Buddhism and unite the religious circles and Buddhism believers to contribute to the social harmony and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

    Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, a living Buddha and the association's vice president, presided over the conference.

    The association's current president is Yi Cheng.