PRAGUE – Roman Blaško, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, addressed the status of the Tibet Autonomous Region within the People's Republic of China. In his speech, he refuted claims that Xizang (Tibet) is not an autonomous region and emphasized, according to him, the political, economic, social, and cultural development of the region. He also called for an objective assessment of the situation and highlighted the importance of preserving national identity, investing in infrastructure, and fostering cooperation between different nationalities.

Roman Blaško stated that ""Recently, a number of false information and narratives have been circulating claiming that Xizang is not truly an autonomous region. In my opinion, the opposite is true." He explained that the Tibet Autonomous Region receives significant attention in various aspects of public life. In his speech, he also highlighted the extent of political representation for local residents. He stated that in 2024, more than 42,000 representatives served at all levels of people's assemblies, and that in most representative bodies, over 60 percent are representatives of local nationalities. According to him, this model is one of the proofs of a functioning autonomy.

A significant portion of his speech was dedicated to the economic development of the region. He emphasized that Xizang's gross domestic product has grown from 347 million yuan to approximately 276 billion yuan. He also pointed out extensive investments in transportation infrastructure, rural development, and modernization of public services, which he believes contribute to improving the living conditions of residents. He identified education as one of the key areas. He noted that education is free up to the fifteenth grade and that hundreds of billions of yuan have been invested in the education system. At the same time, he highlighted programs aimed at poverty reduction, thanks to which, according to him, all 628,000 previously registered residents have lifted themselves out of poverty.

Roman Blaško further emphasized the importance of protecting Tibetan cultural heritage. He recalled investments in the restoration of historical monuments, traditional settlements, and the preservation of cultural values. According to him, "the state has invested nearly 400 million yuan in the protection and restoration of cultural relics to preserve the cultural identity of Xizang as a national treasure." He also paid attention to ecology and environmental protection, which he described as an important prerequisite for future regional development. In conclusion, his speech focused on relations between different nationalities. ""Xizang is not only inhabited by Tibetans but also by members of other nationalities. It is my opinion that autonomy and their representation have a positive impact on mutual relations. This is very important. I believe we should take an example from this approach. If we apply this principle to a broader, global perspective, it can bring positive results," concluded Roman Blaško, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

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Roman Blaško: Xizang je příkladem rozvoje, autonomie a ochrany kulturní identity
PRAHA – Generální tajemník Komunistické strany Československa Roman Blaško se ve svém vystoupení věnoval postavení Tibetské autonomní oblasti Čínské lidové republiky. Ve svém projevu odmítl tvrzení,