Chances for Dalai Lama's return to Tibet Autonomous Region are slim unless he totally abandons his secessionist activities of "Tibet independence", a senior Tibetan official said yesterday. Qiangba Puncog, government chairman of Tibet, denounced Dalai Lama's staunch "pro-independence" stance, at a news conference on the sidelines of annual NPC session yesterday. Related readings: Record growth in Tibet: official Tibet in best ever period of development: official Railway-linked Tibet vexed on inadequate services Tibet to grant allowance to elderly people Moderate quake rattles Tibet, no casualty reported China trains Tibetan students for Tibet's growth Documentary sheds new light on Tibet He said the central government had never shut the door to talks with Dalai Lama through his personal representatives.
He must completely give up his pursuit of 'Tibet independence'; he must recognize that Tibet is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory since the ancient times, and he must also recognize that Taiwan is a part of China. Tibet was peacefully liberated in Qiangba Puncog also slammed Dalai Lama's recent proclamation that he would give up the pursuit of "Tibet independence" in exchange for a "high-degree autonomy" to form a so-called "greater Tibet".
.jpg "Girls Xigaze")
The "greater Tibet" in nature is independence and Dalai Lama made the remark to seek sympathy from people who know little about Chinese history and to internationalize the Tibetan issue, he said.
Tibet has witnessed huge economic growth over many years since it established autonomous government in , Qiangba said. In another development, he said that the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which began operation last July, has not caused environmental damage to the plateau. The reliability rate of the train is more than 90 percent, which proves its sound operation and high quality, he added.
Construction of an extension line of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway linking Lhasa to Xigaze has been approved and will start this year. The kilometer line is expected to be completed in And Zhang Qingli, Party secretary of Tibet brushed aside the concern that the Beijing Olympic torch relay to the plateau would harm its environment.
