Diverse crowd attends CPC symposium in Tibet

Representatives from all walks of life in the Tibet autonomous region, including recipients of honorary Party titles, exemplary Party workers, excellent grassroots officials and rural members, attended a symposium on Tuesday in Lhasa to celebrate the centennial of the Communist Party of China.

Wu Yingjie, Party secretary of Tibet, listed the major achievements the region has made under the leadership of the CPC over the years and said that without the Party, there would be no new socialist Tibet and no happy life for the region's people today.

Eight representatives from different walks of life were invited to give speeches.

Dawa, Party secretary of Chungling village in Neyul Lhoba ethnic township in Tibet's Manling county, noted that his village is located in a border area and its residents were of the Lhoba ethnic group.

"Half a century ago, our villagers lived in remote valleys, in the mountains and in forests, and people suffered from hunger and misery all the time," Dawa said. "After the democratic reform of Tibet in 1959, and especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, people's livelihoods improved dramatically, thanks to a series of preferential policies."

His village has been developing tourism to generate income for its residents in recent years. It has seen annual collective income growth of more than 500,000 yuan ($77,000) annually for five consecutive years.

In 2020, the village's total collective income hit more than 5.5 million yuan, and the per capita disposable income reached 25,000 yuan, he said.

"Now, all residents benefit from the tourism industry in our village, and they have become wealthy and happy," Dawa said. "We are more confident and determined to follow the Party's directions. We are grateful for the kindness of the Party and will never betray it."

Sonam Tsering, a village official of Lhasa's Nyangdran Street, said he was born in the new Tibet and has grown under the care of the red flag.

"I have witnessed Tibet's growth from poverty to the leap in development. I think the changes in two generations in my family reflect the improvement of all the region's rural residents," Sonam Tsering said.

He said his fellow villagers have happy lives, which includes tap water, cellphones and good houses for most.

"All the families in the village have paved roads. The majority own cars. And people have received the benefits of good education policy, medical care and social security provided by the government."