He is a Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Honorary President of the Buddhist Association of China.
He also formerly served as a Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress, Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China.
As a Tibetan tulku (incarnate lama), he is notable for his willingness to work in the Chinese government, except during the Cultural Revolution.