A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday that China welcomes more foreign friends to come to Xizang to see its natural landscape and experience its prosperity for themselves.
Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, made the statement at a daily press briefing in Beijing in response to a media query about the 60th anniversary of celebration of the founding of Xizang Autonomous Region.
"Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping led a central delegation to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of the founding of Xizang Autonomous Region. He engaged in in-depth exchanges with officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life and delivered an important speech, injecting strong momentum into the building of a modern socialist new Xizang and charting the path forward," said Guo.
"Xi noted that since the establishment of Xizang Autonomous Region 60 years ago, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and with vigorous support of the people across the country, the Party committee and government of the autonomous region have united and led the people of all ethnic groups in the region to work hard, pioneer and push ahead, uphold and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and further efforts to combat separatism, thus achieving remarkable accomplishments in economic and social development. Having undergone tremendous changes, the plateau region, together with other parts of the country, finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled and embarked on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects," said Guo.
"Xi stressed that Xizang must fully implement the Party's policies for the governance of Xizang in the new era, remain committed to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, and solidly advance high-quality development. He also urged continuous and enhanced efforts on four major tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment and strengthening the borders, with aims to build a new modern socialist Xizang that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful," said Guo.
"We welcome more foreign friends to come to visit Xizang, where you can personally witness its prosperity, admire its breathtaking ecological landscape, and experience the happy life of people from all ethnic groups in the region," Guo added.
China welcomes foreign friends to come and experience Xizang's prosperity, natural beauty: FM spokesman
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
