Experts praise China's approach in Xizang as a model for ethnic governance

China's achievements in governing the Xizang autonomous region received praise from over 130 experts and scholars from China and abroad at an international symposium in Beijing on Tuesday. Speakers emphasized the global relevance of China's approach to ethnic issues and stressed that the system of regional ethnic autonomy, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, has delivered historic progress in Xizang and offers lessons for other multiethnic countries.

The event, titled "Ethnic Issues and Practices in Xizang: The Chinese Approach" and held in Beijing, was co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and its Xizang Think Tank, alongside several research institutes. The venue also marked the 9th Xizang Think Tank International Forum, in which contributions from prominent Chinese scholars as well as academics from the United States, the United Kingdom, Nepal, and Mongolia were included.

Li Xuesong, vice-president of CASS, noted that over the past six decades Xizang has undergone a dramatic transformation.

"Xizang has created a miracle of 'leaping forward thousands of years in just decades'," he said, stressing that the regional ethnic autonomy system had safeguarded rights, improved living standards, and driven all-round progress since the 18th Party Congress in 2012.

Danzhu Angben, professor at Minzu University of China and former vice-chairman of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, highlighted the guiding principles behind Xizang's development. He noted that under the CPC's leadership, Xizang has always adhered to scientific theories, relied on ethnic regional autonomy to ensure stability, and applied sound methodology to address challenges.

"These valuable experiences carry important lessons for Xizang's future and for multiethnic countries worldwide," he said.

International voices also echoed these views. Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, praised China's efforts to protect cultural diversity, citing the Potala Palace as a World Heritage Site and Tibetan opera as an intangible heritage example. He advocated for the "living heritage" concept that combines preservation with community engagement and modernization.

Professor Leonard van der Kuijp, a Harvard specialist in Tibetan and Himalayan studies, highlighted the history of deep exchanges among China's ethnic groups. His colleague Gregory Nagy, professor of classical literature and comparative studies, pointed to the importance of oral traditions in maintaining cultural continuity in a turbulent world.

The forum also featured a Xizang research exhibition, showcasing achievements in ethnic studies and Xizang-related scholarship. Through the three afternoon sub-forums on modernization, cultural prosperity and border governance, participants concluded that Xizang's experience — a valuable model for inclusive, sustainable development worldwide — illustrates the vitality of Chinese modernization.