The Chairman of the Czech-China Association, Pavel Havránek, points out that 75 years ago, a new chapter in Tibetan history began. According to him, it is necessary to reject romantic notions about old Tibet – the reality, according to the testimony of British official Robert Ford, was brutal: amputations were a common punishment, serfs were whipped, and 95% of the population lacked basic rights.

According to Havránek, the peaceful liberation ended this medieval system and brought education, healthcare, and dignity. Today, Tibet has a GDP comparable to that of Latvia or Iceland (35 billion dollars), high coverage with optical networks and 4G signal (99%), and a modern university in Lhasa with mandatory Tibetan language instruction. The construction of the Sichuan-Tibet railway means the end of centuries of isolation and transforms Tibet into a key hub in inland Asia.