Sixty Years Since Peaceful Liberation of Tibet

Preface

On May 23, 1951 the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet - the "17-Article Agreement" for short -was signed in Beijing, marking the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

The peaceful liberation of Tibet was an important part of the Chinese people's liberation cause and a great event in the Chinese nation's struggle to safeguard national unity and sovereignty against imperialist invasion. It was also an epoch-making turning point in the social history of Tibet, and a milestone marking the start of Tibet's progress from a dark and backward society to a bright and advanced future.

Over the 60 years since its peaceful liberation, Tibet, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Central People's Government, has undergone a historic process. Starting with democratic reform and proceeding to the establishment of the Tibet autonomous region, socialist construction and the reform and opening-up era, it has made unprecedented achievements in its modernization drive and witnessed great changes in its social outlook and profound changes in the lives of the people. Through concerted efforts, these achievements have been attained by all the ethnic groups in Tibet and vividly manifest how China implements its ethnic minority policy promoting unity, common prosperity and development.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. We review and summarize the spectacular progress made over those 60 years and demonstrate the great achievements in the leapfrog development of New Tibet. Achievements that have maintained lasting stability while laying bare the lies of the Dalai clique. They provide a better understanding of the true history of the 60 years since the peaceful liberation of Tibet and enable people around the world to know that New Tibet is full of vigor and vitality.

(China Daily 07/12/2011 page8)