BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Panchen Lama extended his greetings to all Tibetans at home and abroad on the eve of the Tibetan new year, which falls on Saturday.

"Good luck and all the best to all the Tibetan people!" he said when attending a panel discussion at the ongoing session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The Panchen Lama will also perform religious rituals to celebrate the new year of the Tibetan calendar, his aide told Xinhua.

The 21-year-old Panchen Lama became a member of the CPPCC National Committee on February 28 last year.