Central delegation visits officials, residents in multiple areas of Xizang

Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation on Friday and Saturday visited local officials and residents in multiple areas of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The delegation arrived in Xizang on Wednesday for the region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the central delegation, visited multiple places in the city of Xigaze with a main group of the delegation.

While learning about post-disaster reconstruction and relocation work in a quake-hit county, Wang urged efforts to carry out the reconstruction work in a meticulous and solid manner, prevent falling back to poverty due to disasters, and strive to build happy and beautiful new homes.

While learning about primary-level Party building and rural revitalization work, Wang called for efforts to give full play to the key role of grassroots Party organizations and promote all-around rural revitalization.

During his tour to a land port and a national-level wetland park, Wang stressed the need to promote the high-quality development of Xizang and enhance ecological conservation and environmental protection in the plateau region. He also visited senior officials of the city government, representatives from various ethnic groups and sectors, and religious figures, as well as a local residential community.

Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the central delegation, visited a village committee, local officials and residents in Ngari Prefecture to learn about local efforts in poverty alleviation, grassroots governance, pairing assistance to Xizang, agricultural development, and medical and healthcare work.

Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council and deputy head of the central delegation, made a tour in Qamdo. He visited an intelligent and ecological industrial park, a residential community and a high-altitude wind power industrial base, a temple, as well as local officials and residents.

Losang Jamcan, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and deputy head of the central delegation, came to Nagqu, where he toured a clean energy industrial park, a hospital, a temple, and met with herdsmen, pupils and local officials and residents.

Hu Chunhua, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and deputy head of the central delegation, visited reservoir workers and a village in Nyingchi City. He also inspected construction work at a Sichuan-Xizang Railway tunnel, and met with local officials and residents in the city.

Zhang Shengmin, a member of the Central Military Commission and deputy head of the central delegation, visited residential communities, soldiers, local officials and residents in Shannan.

The central delegation on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending the region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations.

A farewell ceremony was held ahead of the central delegation's departure.

Central delegation visits officials, residents in multiple areas of Xizang

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