BEIJING (Reuters) – A Tibetan teenager chosen by China to fill one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most sacred posts emerged in China’s state-run media on Monday to praise the country’s religious policies.

But China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted the Beijing- approved “living Buddha” as praising China’s religious policies, which have attracted criticism from many international rights groups as well as the Bush administration.

He was interviewed in the Tibetan city of Shigatse, where traditionally the Panchen Lama resides.

The Panchen Lama, who was born as Gyaltsen Norbu in northern Tibet, also welcomed China’s restoration of major Tibetan temples, including the Potala Palace and Johkand Monastery in Lhasa.

He also said the Communist Party has brought “wealth, harmony and stability” to Tibet, the report said.

“People of different ethnic groups are living together in harmony, Tibetan society is stable, and all monasteries are packed with pilgrims,” he said.

Many of Tibet’s 2.7 million people remain secretly loyal to the Dalai Lama’s chosen Panchen Lama. The young Panchen Lama’s comments appear likely to draw criticism of China’s policies from exiled supporters of Tibetan autonomy.