Charles Onunaiju, scholar from the Peoples Daily of Nigeria attends the 2014·Forum on the Development of Tibet, China in Lhasa of Tibet Autonomous Region, SW China on August 12, 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.

Charles Onunaiju said in his paper, "The comprehensive development strategy of all regions and provinces corresponds to the socialist character and orientation of the Chinese State, in which the people of all ethnic nationalities are the target of continuous, sustainable and improved well-being." And what he saw and heard all the way in Tibet has validated his view.

At the beginning, he cited the article 4 of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China in Chapter One of its "General Principles" which clear states that "All nationalities in the People Republic of China are equal. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops a relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China’s nationalities. Discrimination and oppression of any nationality are prohibited; any act which undermines the unity of the nationalities or instigates division is prohibited." This article is one of the most recognized and respected by Charles.

In his opinion, the Chinese government dares to face a series of problems that may be triggered by multiple nationalities, dares to look directly at all of these difficulties, and even enables powerful constitution to guarantee the basic interests of all ethnic groups in China. No matter the ethnic group with large number or small number and inhabited in the remote areas, they are all absolute equal in political rights.Charles also could speak on the Tibetan history with great familiarity. From the peaceful liberation in 1951 and democratic reforms in 1959, to the enhancement of Tibet's status as an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China in 1965, he considered that "The break in the theocratic siege of Tibetan population following the democratic reform, heralded strings of strategies and innovations leading to contemporary development in the region."

He also thought that it makes no sense of some western media to speak ill of the Tibetan development. Because, he also mentioned in the article, "The 17-Artile Agreement, the cornerstone of the democratic reform of 1959 explicitly stated that in matters relating to various reforms in Tibet, there will be no compulsion on the part of the central authorities. The local government of Tibet shall carry out reforms of its own accord, and, when the people raise demand for reform, they shall be settled by means of consultation". Moreover, which region in the world can refuse its own economic development and social construction?

During his visit in Lhasa and Nyingchi, Charles was amazed by the economic development of Tibet. Many other foreign experts and scholars also said that the real Tibet is quite different from westerners' imagination, and the real one is more beautiful and more developed. Charles attributed Tibet's success to Chinese government." The Chinese central government administration supports the region's development by providing preferential policies, projects and funds and exhorts relatively developed provinces and big enterprises to help the region," said in his article.

Charles specially mentioned the 5th National Conference on Work in Tibet in his article and considered it as an important working form for Tibet's development. Every aspect of Tibet is covered in the national planning formulated by the central government, including the per-capita net income of Tibet's farmers and herdsmen, the region's public service capacity, ecological security and infrastructure construction. They are all clear and practical goals. Therefore, Charles said in his article: "The rapid development of the region of Tibet after the peaceful liberation in 1951...which triggered sustainable development and enhanced quality in the living standard of all people in the region and particularly the ethnic Tibetans."