Hyderabad, July 2 -- Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, who will turn 90 this July 6, announced there will be a successor after he passes away and reaffirmed that the 600-year-old institution will continue.

"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 in a video broadcast at the start of a meeting of religious leaders in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala where he has lived for decades.

A revered leader to millions of Buddhists around the globe, the Dalai Lama is seen as a symbol of non-violence, compassion and for his tireless campaign for Tibetan cu...