Xi Jinping attends 60th Anniversary of Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa

The 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region was held Thursday morning in Lhasa's Potala Palace Square. 

Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event, joining approximately 20,000 people from various ethnic groups and sectors in Tibet. 

Xi Jinping's return

This visit marks Xi Jinping's first return to Tibet in four years, and it is the first time in the history of the party and the state that such a high-ranking delegation has attended the anniversary celebrations of the autonomous region.

During the event, Wang Huning emphasized that Tibetan affairs are a matter of China's internal politics. 

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing's message

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing read a congratulatory message stating that practice has fully proved that without the Communist Party of China, there would be no new China or new Tibet. The policies and guidelines of the Party Central Committee on Tibet are completely correct.

Wang Huning, the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, highlighted that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Tibet has achieved historic progress in economic and social development, national unity, and people's living standards, entering the best period of development with the most significant changes and benefits for people of all ethnic groups. 

He stressed the importance of unswervingly ensuring national security and long-term stability, consolidating the harmonious and stable social situation in Tibet, advancing the comprehensive rule of law, strengthening and innovating social governance, and forming a solid defense for stability. 

He reiterated that Tibet has always been an inseparable part of China's sacred territory, and its affairs are strictly domestic, not subject to foreign interference. 

Any attempts to split the country or destabilize Tibet are doomed to fail.

Wang also spoke about promoting the construction of a community of the Chinese nation, enhancing exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups, and strengthening their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. 

He emphasized the direction of Sinicization of religions and promoting harmonious religious practices.

Xi calls for high-quality development in Tibet

Xi arrived in Lhasa the previous day with the central delegation and listened to work reports from the Party Committee and Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region. 

He emphasized the need for Tibet to implement the new era's strategies for governing Tibet, adhere to the overall principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, fully and accurately implement the new development concepts, and vigorously promote high-quality development. 

He called for continued efforts to focus on stability, development, ecology, and strengthening border areas, aiming to build a united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious, and modern socialist new Tibet.

Xi Jinping also stressed the importance of maintaining the leadership of the Communist Party, strengthening party construction, promoting the spirit of old Tibet and the 'Two Roads,' and adhering to strict management and warm care, motivating and restraining simultaneously. He encouraged party members, cadres, and talents to strive for progress and take responsibility while implementing various care measures to address their concerns.

That evening, the Tibet Grand Theater hosted a celebratory performance to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, which Xi and various ethnic officials and people from the region attended.