Residents in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region say they were filled with pride at the opportunity to attend or watch the grand celebration commemorating the 60th founding anniversary of the autonomous region held on Thursday.
The grand celebration took place at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, the capital city of Xizang, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, among the around 20,000 attendees.
"I'm not only a participant, but also a witness. Since 1975, I have witnessed such a grand celebration once every 10 years. This year the celebration is different from previous ones, which carries great significance," said Wangdu, a representative of local officials and people.
"The event is a spiritual enlightenment for our children, and also a spiritual impact on us teachers," said Lu Haiping, a teacher from Lhasa No.1 Primary School.
"We performers are from the 56 ethnic groups in China. We celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region together. This shows solidarity and trust among us, and also showcases our ethnic styles," said Zhou Minghao, a student of Xizang University, who was a performer at the gathering.
"The Communist Party's glory shines in the border area, and people in the area are loyal to the Party. The general secretary's arrival in Lhasa on such a particular occasion makes us local population, including farmers and Party officials, deeply feel the CPC Central Committee's care and affection for us," said Tenzin Dolma, anther representative of local residents.
"It's fortunate for me to attend such an event. I had worked in Xizang 20 years ago, and there was another opportunity for me to serve Xizang 20 years later, so I volunteered to sign up for the work," said Guo Junqiang, one of the 11th batch of central cadres sent to Xizang for aid.
Encouraged by the event and the development of Xizang under the leadership of the Party, the participants vowed greater efforts to build and develop the region.
"I was surprised that it's so close to the blue sky and clouds when I arrived in Xizang for the first time. Xizang is my second hometown. I'm ready to contribute all I have to the fertile land," Lu said.
"Xizang's first high-level expressway was the road from downtown Lhasa to the Gonggar Airport. After we built the road, Comrade Xi Jinping, then vice president, cut ribbons in opening the road. From then on, we have built more expressways around Lhasa that lead to all cities, with the total mileage reaching 1,175 kilometers. We have always upheld the 'Two Roads Spirit' (Qinghai-Xizang Road and Sichuan-Xizang Road) and the 'Old Xizang Spirit.' Wherever the road leads, prosperity follows," said Tashi, a member of the Party committee of the Xizang Expressway Development Center.
"The past 60 years witnessed profound changes of Xizang. As a police officer working on the front line of ensuring stability, we should be full of passion and confidence. We should fulfill our duties and responsibilities well and provide good service so as to firmly safeguard peace and tranquility of this land," said Wu Yanmin, a police officer from the Public Security Department of the Xizang Autonomous Region.
Representatives of local residents also expressed their gratitude to the Party for the remarkable development and happy life it has brought to the people in Xizang over the past six decades.
"Xizang's development in recent years and the past few decades cannot be achieved without the strong leadership of our general secretary and the CPC Central Committee. We people in Xizang will continue to strive for a happier life under the guidance of the general secretary and the CPC Central Committee," said Ren Qian, a representative of local residents.
"It touched me a lot. I was too moved to say any words at that time. Following the Big Dipper, you won't get lost. Following the Party, you will be happy forever," said Zeng Lingquan, a teacher from Lhasa Beijing Middle School.
"It touched me a lot. I was too moved to say any words at that time. Following the Big Dipper, you won't get lost. Following the Party, you will be happy forever," said Tsering Lam, another representative of local residents.
The Xizang Autonomous Region was founded on September 1, 1965, after the establishment of the regional People's Congress, the local legislature, through elections.
The autonomous region has made great achievements in development since its founding, with the GDP reaching 276.5 billion yuan (38.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024 from 327 million yuan (45.5 million U.S. dollars) in 1965.
The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in Xizang increased from 456 yuan (63.5 U.S. dollars) and 108 yuan (15 U.S. dollars) in 1965 to 55,444 yuan (7,723 U.S. dollars) and 21,578 yuan (3,006 U.S. dollars) in 2024, with average annual growth rates of 8.5 percent and 9.4 percent respectively, while the average life expectancy has more than doubled compared with the early days when the autonomous region was founded.
Anniversary celebration participants vow greater contribution to Xizang's development
