Ending the speculation on whether he would have a successor, the 14th Dalai Lama said on Wednesday that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue, and the Gaden Phodrang Trust – a non-profit organisation that his office set up in 2011 — would have the “sole authority” to recognise his reincarnation.Hours after the Dalai Lama’s statement, China rejected the succession plan and reiterated that any future heir must receive its seal of approval. “The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation must follow the principles of domestic recognition, the ‘golden urn’ process, and approval by the central government, in line with religious traditions and laws,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.Earlier, the Tibetan spiritual leader had said that he would “re-evaluate” whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not when he turned 90. His video statement released on Wednesday, at the start of a three-day Tibetan religious conference in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, comes days before his 90th birthday on Sunday.“I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said. He said the Trust would take a decision after consultations with Tibetan spiritual heads.Explained | What is the Gaden Phodrang Trust that the Dalai Lama said will find his reincarnation?“On September 24, 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and those who have a connection with Tibet and Tibetans, regarding whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue. I stated that as far back as 1969, I made clear that the people concerned should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future,” he said.“I also said (that) when I am about 90, I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue,” he said.“Over the last 14 years, leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a special general body meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue,” he said.Story continues below this ad“In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” he said. The Dalai Lama said that he had not had any public discussions on the matter.He said the process through which the next Dalai Lama would be recognised has been clearly established in his 2011 statement.The members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust “should consult the various heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition, in accordance with past tradition,” he said.“What His Holiness reiterated today is that the institution of the Dalai Lama shall continue as per the traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. There will be a 15th Dalai Lama, 16th Dalai Lama and so on,” said Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa (head of the Tibetan government-in-exile) who now manages the affairs of the Gaden Phodrang Trust.Story continues below this adSikyong Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration headquartered in McLeodganj, said: “There are three registered institutions that are related to His Holiness: the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is a registered body in India and operates from the office of His Holiness; the Dalai Lama Trust, which is a non-profit organisation; and the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which is registered in Zurich. Of these, it is the Gaden Phodrang Trust which shall be responsible for finding the reincarnation.”Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after his death. –With PTI inputs from Beijing