Xi attends grand gathering to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday attended a grand gathering at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, capital of Xizang Autonomous Region, to celebrate the region's 60th founding anniversary.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China 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.

Xi, who leads a central delegation, arrived in Lhasa on Wednesday to attend activities for celebration of the region's 60th founding anniversary.

Gama Cedain, chairman of the people's government of Xizang Autonomous Region, announced the commencement of the gathering at about 10:00.

Also present were senior officials including Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, as well as Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Both Wang and Cai are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing read out a congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Central Military Commission.

Wang Huning unveiled a plaque in celebration of the Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary.

The Xizang Autonomous Region was founded in September 1965, after the establishment of the regional People's Congress, the local legislature, through elections.

Over the past six decades, Xizang has made historic breakthroughs in its economic and social development.

The region's GDP totaled 276.5 billion yuan (38.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024 -- 155 times that in 1965. Xizang's average life expectancy has reached 72.5 years, against 35.5 years in the 1950s. Notably, the region has eliminated millennia-old absolute poverty and become a moderately prosperous society in all respects alongside the rest of the nation.

Xi attends grand gathering to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

A group of Japanese gathered in Tokyo on Sunday to protest against the country's record defense budget plan and demand the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to curb the military expansion.

Japan's draft defense budget was set at a record 9.04 trillion yen (about 58 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal 2026, local media reported Friday.

The figure exceeds the previous record initial budget of 8.7 trillion yen for the current fiscal 2025 starting in April and is in line with Japan's defense buildup plan to allot about 43 trillion yen to defense outlays from fiscal 2023 through 2027.

The Sunday protesters held banners and chanted slogans at downtown Tokyo, urging the Japanese government to adhere to its commitment to the pacifist constitution, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts.

"We oppose the Takaichi administration's massive military buildup and its tough and belligerent rhetoric. The Liberal Democratic Party and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, claim that expanding military buildup will bring peace. But they actually seek personal gains from the profits of the military-industrial complexes of Japan and the United States. This is wrong. They want to swiftly abolish Article 9 of the Constitution, while we must take action to protect it," said a protester.

"Germany and Italy have both reflected on World War II. Japan now has Articles 9 of the Constitution, which clearly outlaws war and prohibits Japan from sending troops to other countries. Therefore, Japan's Diet and the state must be strictly bound by the Constitution," said another protester.

A demonstrator said the Japanese government's military buildup and erroneous remarks regarding China have damaged the friendship between the two countries and indicated a worrying anti-China attitude.

"Japan's continuous increase in defense spending not only diverts funds from people's livelihood but also constitutes preparations for war. We don't want it. I am very sad about the trouble Takashi's remarks have caused to the Chinese people. But I hope that at least friendship between the people of the two countries can be maintained. If the Japanese government incites its people to oppose and criticize China, it is truly embarking on the path to war," she said.

Japanese protest against record defense budget