Full Text of Speech by Xi Jinping at Tibet's Peaceful Liberation Anniversary Conference

To speed up development holds the key to resolving all issues in Tibet. We should always commit ourselves to the central task of economic development, the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening-up. We should integrate further the central government' s preferential policies with conditions in Tibet, follow the economic development strategy of developing agriculture and industrial priorities and promoting big growth of the service sector, and help Tibet realize leapfrog development along the track of scientific development. We should continue to strengthen basic infrastructure building in the whole Tibet Autonomous Region, steadily improve crop farming and animal husbandry, speed up the development of advantageous industries with local features, improve ecological protection and enhance openness to the outside world, in an effort to improve the self-sustaining capacity supporting Tibet's development.

The economic and social development of Tibet should always aim at safeguarding and improving people's well-being. Our objective is to ensure that people of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region have access to education, employment, medical and old-age care and housing. We should speed up social development on the basis of economic growth, focusing on safeguarding and improving people's well-being, and continue to build a new socialist countryside. We should implement the policy measures prioritizing education, vigorously develop public health and medical services, speed up the building and improvement of a social security system that covers both cities and the countryside, and intensify our efforts to alleviate poverty. All in all, we will work to properly address issues that are cared about most and that concern the immediate interest of people of all ethnic groups in Tibet.

To carry forward the advanced socialist culture is an integral part of the process of fostering the sense of common identity of all ethnic groups in Tibet. We will rally the people around the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will inspire cadres and people in the region with a patriotic national spirit, with the spirit of our times focusing on reform and innovation and the spirit of "older-generation of Tibet" featuring dedication and hard work. We will guide social ethos with the socialist maxims of honor and disgrace, so that the system of socialist core values will be driven home and pursued by the people in the region of their own accord. We should build on and develop the fine traditions of Tibetan culture, following the principle of inheriting through preservation and developing through innovation, in an effort to continue to promote cultural progress in Tibet.

Social stability provides the very basis for leapfrog development and a prosperous life for people of all ethnic groups in Tibet. We should fully implement the Party's ethnicity-related policies, adhere to the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and uphold the theme of all ethnic groups working together in unity for common prosperity. We should stick to the idea that "Han and ethnic minorities cannot live without each other, and different ethnic minorities are inter-dependent on each other", and consolidate and develop the harmony and stability in Tibet, so as to make Tibet a shining example of ethnic unity. We should uphold, consolidate and expand the patriotic united front, and unite people's wisdom and strength to the widest extent possible. We should adhere to the Party's basic religion-related policies, administrate religious affairs in accordance with law, and uphold normal order of Tibetan Buddhism. We should fight against separatist activities by the Dalai group, rely on cadres and people of all ethnic groups, seek long-term policies and take measures that address the root cause, and completely destroy any attempt to undermine stability in Tibet and national unity of the motherland.

The PLA garrison, PAPF units and law enforcement departments in Tibet are staunch forces and loyal guardians protecting national borders, safeguarding the socialist modernization and upholding social stability in Tibet. They should continue to carry forward the fine traditions and work style, fulfill their sacred mission and make further contribution to the leapfrog development and long-term peace and stability of Tibet.

Comrades and Friends,

The current of history moves on. The grand rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irresistible. The future of Tibet will be even brighter. Let us rally more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the General Secretary, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, and jointly make great efforts to further promote the grand cause of building a new, socialist Tibet.

May our great motherland enjoy prosperity!

May people of all ethnic groups in Tibet enjoy happiness!

Tashi Delek!