Residents of a village in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have received a reply letter from President Xi Jinping, who praised their development efforts and urged them to uphold ethnic solidarity and create a happier and better life.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, put forward his expectations in his reply letter to residents of Galai Village in Nyingchi, where he paid a visit in July 2021.
The letter comes as the year 2025 marks the 60th founding anniversary of the Xizang Autonomous Region, adding symbolic significance to the exchange.
Dawa Gyaltsen, a villager who welcomed Xi into his home four years ago, shared his personal memories.
"President Xi cared most about children and the elderly. He also checked out our food supplies, living conditions and whether we are cold or not in the winter," he said.
Galai Village has more than 1,200 peach trees that blossom each spring, earning it the reputation of "the first village of peach blossoms" in Xizang.
Xi has said the village epitomizes the economic and social achievements Xizang has made since its peaceful liberation in 1951.
In his letter, Xi voiced his hope that the villagers will, under the guidance of the Party's policies to develop border areas and improve people's lives, do an even better job in protecting the natural beauty of the plateau region, developing the village's tourism brand, and contributing to building a prosperous and stable border area.
Dawa Gyaltsen also spoke about everyday life in the village and how the seasons shape their work.
"The busiest season is March and April when the peach flowers blossom. As for now, we have daily work that we need to complete. We clear the field and cut the grass. In the next few days, we need to harvest the highland barley," he said.
The original letter from the villagers shared their experiences and the transformations the village has seen since Xi's 2021 visit. It also expressed their commitment to building a better future, reflecting the village's growing identity as both a cultural symbol and a model of rural development in China's border regions.
Residents in Xizang village receive Xi's encouraging letter
Residents in Xizang village receive Xi's encouraging letter
