The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet has confirmed that he will have a successor when he dies, reassuring Buddhist followers around the globe that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.
It is a landmark decision for Tibetans, many of whom had feared a future without a leader.
Supporters around the world who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule will also be relieved at the decision.