In May of this year, the Communist Party of China (CPC) held "The Central United Front Work Conference" in Beijing.

At the meeting, a document titled "The CPC United Front Work Regulations (Trial Implementation)" was issued, marking a historical milestone in the development of the United Front.

The "Regulations" explains clearly the policies of the United Front Work, including the main tasks and methods regarding national religious work. It revealed that, in fact, the United Front Work was the key to the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

On May 23, 1951, the central government and the Tibetan local Government signed the "Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet," known for short as the "17-Article Agreement," which marked peaceful liberation of Tibet. On October 24, the Dalai Lama sent a telegram to Chairman Mao Zedong, in which he wrote: "The Tibetan local government as well as ecclesiastic and secular people unanimously support this agreement, and under the leadership of Chairman Mao and the central people’s government, will actively assist the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops entering Tibet in consolidating national defence, outing imperialist forces from Tibet, and safeguarding the unification of the territory and the sovereignty of the motherland."

In reply, Mao Zedong said: "Thank you for your efforts towards the implementation of the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and extend my hearty congratulations."

From Tibet’s peaceful liberation in 1951 until the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the "17-Article Agreement" was the binding legal document for the central government and Tibet local government to adhere to. This landmark document reflects the important role of the United Front in the realization of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

Given the special nature of Tibet, the CPC insisted on unity of principle and flexibility during the process of the liberation of Tibet, both to safeguard national interests and also to take care of the interests of the people of Tibet.

As Deng Xiaoping, then Political Commissar of Second Field Army, said at the time: "In Tibet, we walk and eat relying on policies. Policies are life. We must work closely with and rely on the masses… We should unite the majority of the ecclesiastic and secular people who are patriotic under the anti-imperialist patriotic banner."

In order to maintain and implement the "17-Article Agreement", the CPC established and developed the anti-imperialist patriotic political foundation, with members of the upper class as the focus of the United Front Work.

For the pro-imperialists of the past, as long as they distance themselves from imperialism, sabotage and resistance, bygones can be bygones, and all can be united.

During the revolution and reconstruction of Tibet, Tibetan members of the United Front played an important part. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, a former leader of Chamdo, expressed early on a hope for beneficial negotiations with the CPC, and suggested that Tibet should "Stop the offensive. Both Chinese and Tibetans will benefit from a peaceful settlement."

When the PLA arrived in Chamdo, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme ordered the withdrawal of Tibetan troops from Chamdo and sent for contact with the PLA.

In addition, he also encouraged more than 40 monks and secular officials to write to the Dalai Lama, to urge the Tibetan local government to speedily send representatives to engage in peace talks with the Central Government based on their knowledge and experience.

At the same time, the CPC performed a lot of work for the masses. The advance company of the Xinjiang cavalry division brought relief to local snowstorm-stricken herdsmen obtained from Xinjiang through untold hardships themselves.

Troops stationed in Yushu and Deqin Tibetan-inhabited areas in Gansu and Yunnan provinces respectively helped courteously with businessmen, pilgrims and other people travelling between those places.

On top of this, the PLA troops in Tibet were also pioneers of production: repairing roads and bridges, providing free medical care, and helping people with laborious work.

It can be said that the United Front Work was the key to the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and the "17-Article Agreement" successfully created the "Model of Tibet".