Xi's Tibet visit seen as boost for ethnic unity

In Lhasa, he spoke with monks at the Drepung Monastery, talked to Barkhor Street vendors and held exchanges with tourists and residents at Potala Palace square.

"I feel pleased to have witnessed the beautiful and magnificent splendor of the plateau and its vibrant new look," he said.

Tibet used to be one of China's least-developed regions, with the highest level of difficulty in poverty alleviation.

The president spoke twice at high-level symposiums on Tibet-related work, in 2015 and 2020, setting out policy directions for the region's growth in the new era.

By the end of 2019, all of the region's 74 impoverished counties had been removed from the list of poverty-stricken areas, with over 620,000 people lifted out of penury.