Charles Onunaiju is taking a group photo with other scholars who all attend the 2014·Forum on the Development of Tibet, China in the Jokhang Monastery of Lhasa on Aug 13, 2014. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Charles Onunaiju, a special correspondent and member of Peoples Daily in Nigeria, attended the 2014·Forum on the Development of Tibet, China. He had visited Tibet's Lhasa City and Nyingchi Prefecture for one week and made an on-the-spot investigation on the local family inns, museums, and etc. He thought it was a rewarding trip. Before the trip, he presented the forum with a paper titled "The Road to Sustainable Development of Tibet" to state his opinions about Tibet's development.

"The recognition of all ethnic nationalities in China as the joint-founders of the modern state of China and the practice of regional autonomy with self-governing institutions, especially for ethnic national minorities are key elements of the political system of modern China," said Charles in his paper.

It is well known that the conflicts between nationalities are bound to become a stumbling block to hinder the national stability as well as economic and social development. When it comes to this point, Charles feels deeply grieved. He comes from Nigeria with the largest population in Africa and 250 nationalities. Nearly one thousand ethnic nationalities are distributed in Africa's 54 countries, thus, the complex ethnic problem is an important blasting fuse to trigger disputes. That's why Charles researches on the regional policies in Tibet, aiming to solve the ethnic problems in Africa by using the experience of China's system of regional national autonomy.

Charles said in his paper: "This practice has implication for Africa and the lessons can be very useful, especially, for a continent, where ethnic nationalities have been identified as critical fault lines in building State, stability and enhancing economic and social development. The failure of classical western federalism to address the ethnic-nationality fault lines in most of African States…" And he also added: "The practice of regional autonomy and self-governing institution for ethnic nationalities and especially among the ethnic minorities would provide an essential input in finding solution to one of Africa's most intractable problems."

According to Charles, the surround situation of China is relatively serious, and the Dalai Lama clique constantly preaches rhetoric of anti-China, thus it is crucial for the Tibet Autonomous Region and even the whole China to adhere to the regional autonomy of minority nationalities.

Charles spoke highly of China's older generation of leaders, especially Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, as well as the new generation of leaders, including President Xi Jinping. He hoped that not only the African countries accept economic aid though the friendly policy, but they could also learn China's system of regional national autonomy in order to effectively solve the problems of their own. He wrote in the end of his paper: "The China's experience especially with her autonomous region of Tibet, has shown that, where the ethnic nationality question is properly managed, with solutions to the history and condition of the people, it could trigger a comprehensive development and enhance overall improvement in the quality of the lives of all the people."

After the one-week trip in Tibet, Charles has confirmed his views. He hoped to visit Tibet once again in the future. He said that the Chinese and Nigerian are good friends from generation to generation. Only confronting the problems together as well as promoting the economic and social development, could the two sides have a place in the international society and create a better future hand in hand.