Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building a modern socialist Xizang that is unified, prosperous, civilized, harmonious and beautiful. He stressed that the region must build on stability, development, environmental protection and border strengthening.

Xi praised the region's extraordinary economic and social progress since the establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region 60 years ago. He said it was essential to maintain political and social stability, ethnic unity and religious harmony.

The President also stressed the need to develop competing industries on the plateau, especially agriculture, pastoralism and clean energy. Among the key projects he identified hydroelectric power plant on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River a Sichuan-Xizang Railway.

He also emphasised ecology: the region should strive for reducing emissions, reducing pollution and expanding green developmentto protect both the 'roof of the world' and the 'water tower of Asia'.

CMG