摆脱帝国主义侵略，是西藏各族人民和上层爱国人士的迫切愿望。1949年10月1日新中国成立，对西藏人民产生巨大鼓舞，他们热切盼望中央人民政府早日解放西藏，驱逐帝国主义势力。十世班禅于中华人民共和国成立当日，致电毛泽东主席和朱德总司令，表示热忱拥护中央人民政府，请求人民解放军早日解放西藏。1949年12月，遭受亲英势力迫害而逃往内地的原西藏摄政热振活佛的近侍堪布益西楚臣，到青海西宁向人民解放军控诉帝国主义破坏西藏内部团结的罪行，要求迅速解放西藏。著名藏传佛教大师喜饶嘉措在西安发表谈话，谴责帝国主义策划拉萨当局进行所谓“独立”的阴谋。

　　在中央政府和西藏人民的共同努力下，1951年5月23日签订了《中央人民政府和西藏地方政府关于和平解放西藏办法的协议》(简称“十七条协议”)。“十七条协议”第一条便是：“西藏人民团结起来，驱逐帝国主义侵略势力出西藏，西藏人民回到中华人民共和国祖国大家庭中来。”在“十七条协议”中，西藏地方政府也承诺，“积极协助人民解放军进入西藏，巩固国防。”5月25日中央人民政府人民革命军事委员会主席毛泽东发布进军训令，全面拉开进军西藏序幕。西藏各族人民衷心拥护、热烈欢迎人民解放军进藏，支持帮助进藏部队。

It was the urgent desire of all ethnic groups in Tibet and of upper-class patriots to free Tibet from imperialist aggression. The founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949 was a great inspiration for the people of Tibet. They keenly expected the Central People's Government of China to liberate Tibet and drive out imperialist powers at the earliest opportunity. On October 1, 1949, the very day the People's Republic was founded, the 10th Panchen Erdeni telegraphed Chairman Mao Zedong and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De, expressing his support for the Central People's Government and urging the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to liberate Tibet as soon as possible. In December 1949, Reting Yeshe Tsultrim, aide to the Fifth Regent Reting Rinpoche who suffered persecution from pro-British forces, arrived in Xining, Qinghai Province, to report to the PLA on imperialist attempts to destroy Tibet's internal unity, urging the PLA to liberate Tibet without delay. Sherab Gyatso, a famous master of Tibetan Buddhism, delivered a talk in Xi'an, denouncing the imperialists for hatching a plot through which Lhasa authorities would seek "independence."

Through the efforts of the Central People's Government and of the people of Tibet, the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet (the "17-Article Agreement") was signed on May 23, 1951. The first article stipulated, "The people of Tibet should unite and drive out imperialist aggressive forces; they will return to the family of the People's Republic of China." In the agreement, the local government of Tibet promised to "actively assist the PLA in entering Tibet and consolidating national defense." On May 25, Chairman Mao Zedong of the People's Revolutionary Military Committee of the Central People's Government issued an order, so marking the PLA's entry into Tibet. All ethnic groups of Tibet expressed heartfelt support for and a warm welcome to the PLA, and helped the troops enter Tibet.