Senior Chinese official claims Tibet is safe and stable

Beijing, Mar 9(ANI): A senior Chinese official has said the social situation in the autonomous region of Tibet is safe and stable.

According to Padma Choling, a National People's Committee Deputy and Chairman of the region, Tibet is safe for visiting, and called for enhanced basic infrastructure and living standards in the region.

"I can tell you with full responsibility that currently the region is stable and safe. If not, how it could be possible for me to take a week-long vacation during the Tibetan New Year holiday last month and come to the annual National People's Congress session in Beijing to perform my duty as a deputy with no worries?" The China Daily quoted Choling, as saying.

He said Tibetans have just celebrated a happy and peaceful Tibetan New Year, which started on Feb 22 this year and lasted 15 days.

In late January, protests against the Chinese government in Luhuo and Sertar counties in Southwest China's Sichuan province had left two protestors dead and 24 police officers and firemen injured.

Choling said he is confident of sustaining stability in Tibet, and believes maintaining high living standards really help in this.

"The region's stability depends on how much work we put into maintaining social order as well as other efforts, including continuously improving Tibetans' living standards. I am confident in maintaining Tibet's overall stability," he said.

He said people would only be grateful for the government's efforts after they actually feel that their lives have been improved.

"We need to have the spirit of inclusion and try to understand each other so that ethnic unity, which is the lifeline of the region's peaceful development, could be further strengthened," he added. (ANI)