Peaceful liberation leads Tibet to unity, progress, development: White paper

BEIJING -- With the peaceful liberation of Tibet 70 years ago, the people of Tibet broke free from the fetters of invading imperialism for good and embarked on a bright road of unity, progress and development with all the other ethnic groups in China, said a white paper on Friday.

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, or the 17-Article Agreement, was signed, officially proclaiming the peaceful liberation of Tibet, said the white paper titled "Tibet Since 1951: Liberation, Development and Prosperity."

Following the peaceful liberation, all ethnic groups in Tibet, united under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, have worked together in implementing the 17-Article Agreement, and stood firm in safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the white paper added.