Noted events and quotes regarding Tibet by Secretary General Xi Jinping

May 23rd is the 65th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Ever since the 18th People’s Congress, the central Party leadership as led by Secretary General Xi Jinping has highly regarded the importance of Tibet, and is always concerned with the well-being of the Tibetan people.

During the 2013 "Two Sessions", Xi outlined the important strategic guidelines of “Governing a country starts at its borders; Governing borders starts with Tibet.” In the 6th Tibet Work Conference, 2015, Xi announced the “Six Musts” in Tibetan policies and a 20-word Work Principle.

Here are the noted events, quotes, and highlights in Secretary General Xi Jinping’s leadership of Tibet and care of the Tibetan people.

1. In August 2015, during the6th Tibet Work Conference, “Six Musts” in Tibetan policies and a 20-word Work Principle were unveiled.

2. June, 2015

Xi Jinping received the 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu 

On June 10th, 2015, while receiving a visit from the 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu at Zhong Nan Hai, Xi said the Party has always highly valued the role of Tibet. The year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and the central Party leadership will dispatch a delegation to celebrate the occasion with the Tibetan people. Xi believes that by 2020, with full support from the Party and the whole country, all ethnic groups in Tibet, as well as all of China, will enjoy a well-off standard of living. The lives of all people in Tibet will become even better.

3. April, 2015

After Tibet was impacted by the Nepalese earthquake, Secretary General Xi made important decisions for the disaster relief.

On April 25th, 2015, the 8.1 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal severely affected Shigatse, Ngari, and other areas of Tibet. After the disaster, Xi gave important guidance for the Party Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the local government, advising them to act quickly, plan comprehensively, and fully coordinate among the Party leadership, military, paramilitary, and civilians, so as to best implement all disaster relief efforts.

In May, when the disaster relief has realized some preliminary results, Xi once again made important pronouncements. Xi acknowledged the success of the early phases, and asked everyone to continue to do their best in rescuing the wounded and trapped residents, give the injured the best medical care, provide help for dislocated residents, repair damaged infrastructure, work on rebuilding, and to maintain the social harmony and stability in the Tibet Autonomous Region, especially in the disaster-affected areas.

4. August 2014

Xi made important comments on the 60th Anniversary of the Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet Highways

An emphasis of the “Two Highways” spirit to promote development in Tibet

Xi said, 2014 is the 60th Anniversary of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The two highways are a major achievement in the new China under Party leadership, and has helped Tibet make a historical leap in its social system, played a vital role in Tibet’s social-economic development, and is crucial in strengthening the South-Western borders, and contributed to ethnic harmony. Sixty years ago, it took 100 thousand-plus military personnel and civilians months of incredibly challenging work to achieve a miracle in highway construction, and finally enabled Tibet to have its own highways.

5. March 2013

Xi attends discussion during the First Session of the Tibet Work Forum at the 12th National People’s Congress

Xi outlined the important strategic guidelines of “Governing a country starts at its borders; Governing borders starts with Tibet.”

On March 9th, 2013, while attending a discussion at the First Session of the Tibet Work Forum at the 12th National People’s Congress, Xi outlined the important strategic guidelines of “Governing a country starts at its borders; Governing borders starts with Tibet.”

Xi emphasized that the central Party leadership has always valued the stable development of Tibet and is highly concerned with the quality of life of all ethnic groups in Tibet. Xi hoped all groups in Tibet will diligently follow the principles and polices regarding Tibet from the central government, and seize the historic opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the “time-tested Tibetspirit.” Everyone should strive to do their best in following a development strategy with Chinese character and Tibetan traits. He hoped for continued security and improvement in people’s lives, a firm resolve in maintaining and developing ethnic unity, and the proactive building of a long-term mechanism in maintaining stability. The transformative development of Tibet and its long-term security should be accelerated, so that by 2020, all ethnic groups in Tibet, like all of China, will enjoy a well-off standard of living.