Nearly 70 representatives of various ethnic groups from different circles gathered in a local auditorium in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tuesday to share their views on the immense changes that have taken place in Tibet over the past five decades.

Present was Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, a vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The participants included Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns, Tibetan compatriots who have returned from abroad, noted Living Buddhas, as well as local intellectuals, businessmen and patriotic figures from former upper-class families.

Since May 23, 1951, when the central government and the local government of Tibet reached an agreement on the peaceful liberation of Tibet, great changes have taken place in Tibet under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and with the assistance by Chinese people from different ethnic groups, according to participants.

In related developments, deputies to the regional People's Congress and members of the regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, also hailed the great achievements made by Tibet over the past 50 years at their recent respective annual sessions.

"During the past five decades, the greatest and most profound change in Tibet is that Tibetan people of different ethnic groups have turned into masters from serfs," said Kang Ying, a deputy to the regional People's Congress, in an interview with Xinhua.

(People's Daily 05/23/2001)