BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the establishment of a prosperous and harmonious “new socialist Tibet” characterized by unity and civility. His remarks come shortly after the Group of Seven (G7) nations expressed concerns about human rights in the region.
Xi emphasized the need for Tibet to prioritize high-quality development, highlighting the progress made in overcoming centuries of extreme poverty, as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Tibet’s economy experienced significant growth last year, reaching 216.5 billion yuan ($31 billion), matching China’s national growth rate of 3%. Despite Tibet’s economic development, China has faced allegations of suppressing religious and cultural freedoms in the predominantly Buddhist region. However, Beijing vehemently denies such accusations.
The G7 leaders, in a recent communique released after their meeting in Hiroshima, expressed their ongoing concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet. These remarks further strained relations with Beijing, which views Tibet-related matters as internal affairs.
Xi Jinping’s Congratulatory Letter
In a congratulatory letter to a forum on Tibet’s development held in Beijing, Xi Jinping emphasized that people’s happiness is the ultimate human right, with development serving as the key to improving their lives.
Xi’s letter also reaffirmed the importance of respecting religious beliefs while ensuring governance of religious affairs in accordance with the law. He further emphasized the need for Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to a socialist society.
China maintains that it “peacefully liberated” Tibet in 1951, deploying Chinese troops to the region. Beijing claims that its intervention put an end to a “backward feudal serfdom” and rejects accusations of wrongdoing. Following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fled the region and has since been labeled a dangerous separatist by Beijing.
The issue of Tibet remains a contentious topic, with China aiming to promote its vision of development and social harmony while countering international concerns about human rights in the region.
