Top political advisor stresses consolidation of Tibet's enduring peace, stability

LHASA -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed continuous efforts to consolidate the foundations of enduring peace and stability in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region.

The efforts should center on safeguarding the country's unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity, resolutely combating separatism, forestalling and defusing major risks and challenges and continuously consolidate the foundations of long-term peace and stability in Tibet.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in the region.

During the three-day tour that started Monday, he visited villages relocated for poverty relief, pasturing areas, industrial parks and religious venues in Xigaze and Lhasa, and presided over a symposium where he listened to suggestions from the attendees.

Speaking highly of the efforts made by the region's Party committee in recent years, Wang noted that the work related to ethnic and religious affairs concerns the enduring peace and stability of the region, asking for further research into the history of the community of the Chinese nation to improve public awareness of ethnic unity and progress.

He called for raising the social awareness of religious believers that they are, above all, citizens of the country, as well as the promotion of patriotism to further adapt Tibetan Buddhism to the socialist society.

Highlighting a people-centered development vision, Wang stressed that poverty alleviation is both an economic and a political task, and urged efforts to make sure nobody from any ethnic group in Tibet lags behind in marching into a moderately prosperous society.

He also underscored the role of the rural vitalization strategy, education and characteristic industries in poverty alleviation in the region.