The Dalai Lama has said he plans to step down as political leader of the Tibetan government in exile.
The 76-year-old has long seen himself as "semi-retired" from political leadership with an elected prime minister already in place in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala.
The Dalai Lama remains Tibet's spiritual leader.
The formal move, which still needs to be ratified by the parliament-in-exile based in India, should give a new prime minister to be elected this month greater clout on the world stage as they seek Tibetan autonomy from China.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.