By IANS,
Beijing : Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping Tuesday vowed to
fight “separatist activities” by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Xi also told a rally marking the 60th anniversary of China’s “peaceful liberation of Tibet” that Beijing was determined to improve the well being of the Tibetan people and maintain stability in Tibet.
“To speed up development holds the key to resolving all issues in Tibet,” China Daily quoted him as saying. He was addressing the rally in front of the landmark Potala Palace in Lhasa.
Xi’s comments came only days after China expressed fury over US President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama — their second meeting since early 2010.
The vice president said China’s objective was to ensure that people of all ethnic groups in the region had access to education, employment, medical and old-age care and housing.
Xi said it was necessary to “fight against separatist activities by the Dalai group by relying on cadres and people of all ethnic groups … so as to destroy any attempt to undermine stability in Tibet and national unity of the motherland”.
Although the Dalai Lama has given up his earlier demand for an independent Tibet, China continues to accuse him of pursuing separatist activities.
Xi said Tibet served as an important national security screen for China.
The Dalai Lama has lived in India since 1959 when Chinese troops took over his homeland. India is also home to some 100,000 Tibetan exile.