Xi Jinping In Tibet: What Makes This Visit So Rare And Why It Matters

Xi Jinping In Tibet: Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Tibet on Wednesday amid controversy surrounding the next Dalai Lama. Xi landed in Lhasa accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Wang Huning, China’s top political adviser and the fourth-ranking official, Cai Qi, Xi’s chief of staff; Li Ganjie, head of the United Front Work Department; Vice-Premier He Lifeng; and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.

The Chinese premier is traveling to the sacred land to attend activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the region becoming an autonomous region. He was the first Chinese head of state to attend the once-a-decade ceremonies.

Who is Xi Jinping Meeting in Tibet?

Xi met with regional officials, public security personnel, and clergy. Included were the Panchen Lama, the second-highest ranking spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, state broadcaster CCTV said.

In the meeting, Xi mapped out four main areas of priority for the region – stability, development, environmental protection, and border defense.

To rule and to make Tibet prosperous, the priority is to achieve political and social stability and ethnic harmony as well as religious people being harmonious with society,” Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.

Xi Jinping Urges To Strengthen Mandarin

He urged cadres to strengthen the promotion of Mandarin, expand economic and cultural exchanges, and increase personnel interactions between Tibet and other parts of China. Xi also directed officials to establish a special district to highlight progress in ethnic unity and emphasized the need to “guide” Tibetan Buddhism to align with socialism.

Additionally, Xi encouraged continued efforts to advance agriculture, environmental conservation, and tourism.

Tibet as An Autonomous Region

The Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established in September 1965, making it one of five ethnic minority autonomous regions in China. The last anniversary event, held in 2015, was overseen by Yu Zhengsheng, then the fourth-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee.

Xi is also the only Chinese president to have visited Tibet twice during his tenure. His first visit took place in 2021 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army’s entry into Tibet.

“This is the first time in the history of the Communist Party and the country \[that Xi has attended the event]. It fully demonstrated the party leadership’s high regard for Tibet’s work and their sincere care for Tibetan cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in Tibet,” Xinhua reported.

Tensions Over the Dalai Lama’s Succession

The anniversary takes place amid renewed friction between Beijing and the Tibetan spiritual leadership.

Last month, the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s 90-year-old spiritual leader living in exile, announced his succession plan, declaring that the Gaden Phodrang Trust – his office in India – holds sole authority to identify his reincarnation.

Beijing quickly rejected the announcement, insisting that the process must comply with Chinese law and tradition, including the “golden urn” system, and receive central government approval. Analysts have noted that the Dalai Lama’s new approach marks a significant departure from tradition, likely deepening tensions with Beijing.

Also Read: Afghanistan, China, Pakistan Hold 6th Meeting Of Foreign Ministers: Know What Happened