Members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) talk to each other prior to the CPPCC session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2012. The Fifth Session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee opened on Saturday afternoon. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Jia stresses stability in Tibetan-inhabited areas

A senior leader Thursday stressed efforts to maintain steady and relatively fast economic growth and safeguard social harmony and stability in west China's Tibet autonomous region and Tibetan-inhabited areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

Jia Qinglin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remarks while presiding over a meeting on promoting development and stability in the mentioned areas.

Urging earnest efforts for safeguarding social stability, Jia, who is also the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the positive roles of different groups should be tapped to lay a social foundation for development and enduring stability in those areas.

"We should consider both internal and external situations and firmly follow the gist of 'making progress while maintaining stability,' striving for a steady economic growth in Tibet and the Tibetan-inhabited areas in the four provinces," Jia said.

Spokeman: Tibetan self-immolations applauded by Dalai Lama
A series of self-immolations of Tibetan monks were applauded by the Dalai Lama, Zhao Qizheng, spokesman for the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said on March 2.

Before those unfortunate incidents took place, there were people who forecast the time and places. Some people brought video cameras to film the incidents, and some of them even tried to prevent the rescue efforts, Zhao told reporters at a press conference.

"According to what I have heard, he publicly applauded the courage of these people who set fire to themselves," Zhao added, referring to the Dalai Lama.

A string of self-immolations broke out in Tibetan areas in the provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai bordering Tibet in recent months. And at least two mob attacks on police offices were reported in Sichuan's volatile Tibetan areas in late January, leaving at least two people dead and more than a dozen injured.

Zhao said committing suicide, which is a disrespect for life, is not a wise thing to do.

He asked relevant people not to take extreme actions to express their attitudes.

"It is important to avoid being misled," Zhao said. "If you lose your life because of extreme actions, it will be too late to regret it."

The 11th Panchen Lama reads the government work report of the National Committee of the Chinese's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), March 5. [Photo/Chinanews]

Panchen Lama attends national political consultative meeting
As a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), it is the third time for the 11th Panchen Lama to attend China's most important political consultative meeting.

The 11th Panchen Lama showed up in a saffron monk robe as usual, drawing attentions from his fellow political advisors.

The 10-day annual session of the CPPCC National Committee opened in Beijing on Saturday.

During this time, members of the CPPCC will put forward proposals to offer comments and suggestions on major political and social issues of the country to People's Congresses and the government via the CPPCC.

Chinese leaders talk with Tibetan deputies
President Hu Jintao and other top Chinese leaders Saturday joined a tea party for the deputies to the country's top legislature and the members of the top political advisory body who are from the ethnic minority groups.

At the party, Hu chatted with deputies from Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, urging them to better serve their people.

The leaders urged the ethnic representatives to better fulfill their duties and convey the demand of the people of ethnic minorities.

They also urged unity among the ethnic minority groups for the prosperity of their hometowns and the country.

The tea party started at 7:45 p.m. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Background:

The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and a major manifestation of socialist democracy.

Members of the CPPCC are representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

The CPPCC also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.