Parade formations representing key national symbols and other groups paraded past Potala Palace square in Lhasa, capital city of Xizang Autonomous Region, in southwest China on Thursday morning to mark the region's 60th founding anniversary.
The parade was part of the series of celebrations in Lhasa on Thursday, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other senior officials.
During the mass parade, flag of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led the procession, followed in order by formations carrying the national flag, national emblem, portraits of Xi and successive top Chinese leaders, official slogans, as well as contingents of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Armed Police, judicial and law enforcement officers, and female militias.
Following the epoch-making democratic reform in 1959, the Xizang Autonomous Region was founded in September 1965, which signified a historic shift from feudal serfdom to socialism characterized by people's democracy.
The region began to exercise comprehensive regional ethnic autonomy, ensuring that people of all ethnic groups are masters of the country, which helps to unleash their initiative, enthusiasm and creativity in driving development.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to work related to Xizang, showing deep care and great concern for the people of all ethnic groups in the region.
Xi has outlined four key priorities for Xizang - stability, development, ecological conservation, and border security, and has set forth the strategic goals of achieving lasting stability and high-quality development. These directives have charted the course and provided fundamental guidance for building a modern socialist Xizang.
Over the past six decades, Xizang has achieved historic milestones in its economic and social development, showcasing the remarkable success of China's system of regional ethnic autonomy and the CPC's approach to governing the region. This year, Xizang's regional gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to surpass 300 billion yuan (about 42 billion U.S. dollars), and the region has eliminated millennia-old absolute poverty and realized a moderately prosperous society in all respects alongside the rest of the nation.
Xizang Autonomous Region marks 60th founding anniversary with parade showcasing progress
Xizang Autonomous Region marks 60th founding anniversary with parade showcasing progress
