Panchen Lama too young to enter top legislature
The Panchen Lama is too young to become a deputy to the NPC, China's top legislature, the spokesperson said.
"China's regulations stipulate that NPC deputies must be above 18 years of age," said Jiang.
"According to my knowledge, he was not 18 years old when the election took place," he said.
The 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu was born in 1989 and ascended the holy throne in Tibet on December 8, 1995.
China considers amending election law to give rural people more say
China's parliament is considering amending the election law to give equal representation to rural and urban residents, said the spokesperson.
"Provided the progressing urbanization in China, the present election law needs amending," said Jiang.
According to the present election law, the number of people a rural NPC deputy represents is four times that of a urban deputy.
With the increase of urban population, it is necessary to give equal representation to the two groups, Jiang said.
