Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a grand gathering on Thursday at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, capital of Xizang Autonomous Region, to mark the region's 60th founding anniversary, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined around 20,000 local officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the celebration.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the central delegation, attended the event and delivered a speech. Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the gathering. Both Wang and Cai are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The gathering commenced at 10 am, with all attendees standing to sing the national anthem. The bright five-starred red flag was hoisted solemnly at the site.
A congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, and the Central Military Commission was read out.
Wang then presented a plaque bearing Xi's inscription, "Jointly building a community for the Chinese nation, writing a new chapter for a beautiful Xizang," as a congratulatory gift.
The ceremony concluded with a vibrant mass parade in an auspicious and festive atmosphere. Xi and other leaders waved to the crowds.
Amid the passionate melody of "Ode to the Motherland," doves soared into the sky, colorful balloons floated upward, and thunderous applause and cheers erupted, marking the successful conclusion of the celebrations.
Beyond the square, streets in Lhasa and many other places were adorned with banners, while slogans such as "Follow the North Star and you won't lose your way; follow the Communist Party of China and you will live a happy life" were displayed in both urban and rural areas.
The Global Times reporter saw that in the bustling Barkhor Street, shops had been freshly painted, with many entrances decorated with national flags.
Puciren, an 81-year-old retired civil servant in Lhasa, said that "seeing the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region makes me especially happy." He told the Global Times that the peaceful liberation, democratic reform, and the founding of the autonomous region brought earthshaking changes to Xizang.
"Life as a serf was bitter - my mother had to work for nobles and even rent their houses. Serfs were treated as 'talking livestock.' The establishment of the autonomous region allowed the people to truly stand up as masters of their own destiny," said Puciren, noting that since joining the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1977, he had worked at the grassroots and later as a guide, witnessing firsthand the transformation of Xizang - beautiful landscapes, modern infrastructure, and a better life for the people.
New chapter for Xizang
Xi, who leads a central delegation, arrived in Lhasa, capital of Xizang, on Wednesday to attend activities in celebration of the region's 60th founding anniversary.
On Wednesday, Xi also met with representatives from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the plateau region and urged concerted efforts to write a splendid chapter of Chinese modernization in Xizang Autonomous Region.
While listening to work reports from the CPC Xizang regional committee and the regional government on Wednesday, Xi urged Xizang Autonomous Region to build a modern socialist new Xizang that is united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious and beautiful.
He emphasized that Xizang should steadily advance high-quality development and continue to make solid efforts on the four main tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment, and strengthening the borders.
Governing Xizang, ensuring its stability and promoting its prosperity must begin with maintaining political and social stability, ethnic unity and amity among different religions, Xi said, calling for further advancing the building of a community for the Chinese nation.
Xi emphasized the need to promote two-way exchanges in economy, culture, and personnel between Xizang and other parts of China, and to guide Tibetan Buddhism in adapting itself to socialist society.
Since its founding in 1965, the Xizang Autonomous Region has made comprehensive progress in economic and social developments, especially in people's livelihoods, with living standards rising significantly. The establishment of the autonomous region was a successful practice of China's system of regional ethnic autonomy, marking a historic turning point for Xizang - from darkness to light, backwardness to progress, Zhang Shigao, director of the Institute for Contemporary Studies of China Tibetology Research Center, told the Global Times.
Over the past 60 years, Xizang's development has also offered a Chinese approach to addressing ethnic issues, while the unity and progress of all ethnic groups have forged a solid monument to the consciousness of the Chinese national community, said the expert.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined around 20,000 local officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the celebration.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the central delegation, attended the event and delivered a speech. Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the gathering. Both Wang and Cai are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The gathering commenced at 10 am, with all attendees standing to sing the national anthem. The bright five-starred red flag was hoisted solemnly at the site.
A congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, and the Central Military Commission was read out.
Wang then presented a plaque bearing Xi's inscription, "Jointly building a community for the Chinese nation, writing a new chapter for a beautiful Xizang," as a congratulatory gift.
The ceremony concluded with a vibrant mass parade in an auspicious and festive atmosphere. Xi and other leaders waved to the crowds.
Amid the passionate melody of "Ode to the Motherland," doves soared into the sky, colorful balloons floated upward, and thunderous applause and cheers erupted, marking the successful conclusion of the celebrations.
Beyond the square, streets in Lhasa and many other places were adorned with banners, while slogans such as "Follow the North Star and you won't lose your way; follow the Communist Party of China and you will live a happy life" were displayed in both urban and rural areas.
The Global Times reporter saw that in the bustling Barkhor Street, shops had been freshly painted, with many entrances decorated with national flags.
Puciren, an 81-year-old retired civil servant in Lhasa, said that "seeing the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region makes me especially happy." He told the Global Times that the peaceful liberation, democratic reform, and the founding of the autonomous region brought earthshaking changes to Xizang.
"Life as a serf was bitter - my mother had to work for nobles and even rent their houses. Serfs were treated as 'talking livestock.' The establishment of the autonomous region allowed the people to truly stand up as masters of their own destiny," said Puciren, noting that since joining the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1977, he had worked at the grassroots and later as a guide, witnessing firsthand the transformation of Xizang - beautiful landscapes, modern infrastructure, and a better life for the people.
A parade float takes part in a grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary in Lhasa, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on August 21, 2025. Around 20,000 local officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life joined in the celebration. Photo: Xinhua
New chapter for Xizang
Xi, who leads a central delegation, arrived in Lhasa, capital of Xizang, on Wednesday to attend activities in celebration of the region's 60th founding anniversary.
On Wednesday, Xi also met with representatives from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the plateau region and urged concerted efforts to write a splendid chapter of Chinese modernization in Xizang Autonomous Region.
While listening to work reports from the CPC Xizang regional committee and the regional government on Wednesday, Xi urged Xizang Autonomous Region to build a modern socialist new Xizang that is united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious and beautiful.
He emphasized that Xizang should steadily advance high-quality development and continue to make solid efforts on the four main tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment, and strengthening the borders.
Governing Xizang, ensuring its stability and promoting its prosperity must begin with maintaining political and social stability, ethnic unity and amity among different religions, Xi said, calling for further advancing the building of a community for the Chinese nation.
Xi emphasized the need to promote two-way exchanges in economy, culture, and personnel between Xizang and other parts of China, and to guide Tibetan Buddhism in adapting itself to socialist society.
Since its founding in 1965, the Xizang Autonomous Region has made comprehensive progress in economic and social developments, especially in people's livelihoods, with living standards rising significantly. The establishment of the autonomous region was a successful practice of China's system of regional ethnic autonomy, marking a historic turning point for Xizang - from darkness to light, backwardness to progress, Zhang Shigao, director of the Institute for Contemporary Studies of China Tibetology Research Center, told the Global Times.
Over the past 60 years, Xizang's development has also offered a Chinese approach to addressing ethnic issues, while the unity and progress of all ethnic groups have forged a solid monument to the consciousness of the Chinese national community, said the expert.
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