India, July 2 -- Reaffirming that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader on Wednesday announced that the Gaden Phodrang Trust would decide on his successor.

The 14th Dalai Lama made the significant announcement of his successor at the 15th Tibetan religious conference that began at McLeodganj near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6. The conference is being attended by leaders and representatives of all major Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

The spiritual leader reiterated that the responsibility for recognising the 15th Dalai Lama would rest exclusively with the Trust. "Though I have had no public discussions on this issue over the last 14 years, le...