Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong Publishes Article in Indian Mainstream Media

　　2019年11月6日，驻印度大使孙卫东在印度主流英文媒体《印度斯坦时报》发表署名文章《中国西藏的发展和宗教信仰自由》，介绍了新中国成立70年、西藏民主改革60年来西藏经济社会等领域取得的巨大成就，阐明我在涉藏问题上的原则立场，介绍活佛转世制度的历史沿革，希望印度政府在涉藏问题上坚守立场，履行承诺，排除干扰，促进中印关系健康稳定发展。全文如下：

On November 6th, 2019, Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong published an article entitled "China's Tibet: A story of progress" in Hindustan Times. The full text is as follows:

　　今年是中华人民共和国成立70年，也是西藏民主改革60周年。60年来，在中国共产党坚强领导下，西藏面貌发生翻天覆地变化。政治上，废除了落后的封建农奴制，确立了人民当家作主的社会主义制度和民族区域自治制度。经济上，连续26年保持两位数增长，2018年实现地区生产总值1477.63亿元人民币，同比增长9.1%，增速位居全国第一。文化上，藏文成为中国第一个具有国际标准的少数民族文字，藏文图书、藏语节目丰富多彩。教育上，从70年前儿童入学率不足2%，青壮年文盲率高达95%，到2018年人均受教育年限达到9.55年。宗教上，西藏共有1700多处各类宗教活动场所，住寺僧尼约4.6万余人。每年到拉萨朝佛信教群众达百万人次。

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of democratic reform in Tibet. Over the past 60 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, great changes have taken place in Tibet. Politically, the backward feudal serfdom was abolished and a socialist system with people as masters and regional ethnic autonomy was established. Economically, Tibet has enjoyed double-digit growth for 26 consecutive years. Its GDP in 2018 was 147.763 billion RMB Yuan, up by 9.1% year on year, a growth rate leading the country. Culturally, Tibetan language has become the first ethnic minority language in China to meet international standards. Books and cultural programs in Tibetan language are rich and colorful. In education, from a place with less than 2% of children school enrollment rate and 95% of youth illiteracy rate 70 years ago, it has progressed to boast a 9.55-year per capita schooling in 2018. In religious field, it has over 1,700 religious sites and over 46,000 resident monks and nuns. Each year, millions of people come to Lhasa to worship the Buddha.

　　西藏是藏族和其他各族人民的共同家园。公元七世纪，吐蕃赞普松赞干布迎娶唐朝文成公主，佛教自唐流入西藏；公元十三世纪，元朝将西藏纳入直接行政管辖之下；明朝延续并加强对西藏管理；清朝更确立了藏区的活佛转世制度。历史证明，西藏自古以来就是中国的一部分。当今世界，各国普遍承认西藏是中国的一部分，没有一个国家承认过“西藏独立”，更不存在所谓西藏“政治地位”问题。

Tibet is a homeland shared by Tibetan and other ethnic groups of China. In 7th century, the then Tibetan ruler Songtsan Gambo married Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty of China and Buddhism was introduced into Tibet from the Tang Empire. In the 13th century, the Yuan dynasty brought Tibet under its direct administration. The following Ming dynasty continued to strengthen administration of Tibet. During the Qing dynasty, the reincarnation system for living Buddhas was established in Tibet. Historical records prove that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. In today's world, it is universally recognized that Tibet is an integral part of China, and no country has ever recognized "Tibetan independence". And there is no such thing as the so-called "political status" of Tibet.

　　近年来，包括印度在内的多国记者都曾受邀到访西藏，亲身感受西藏经济社会发展成就，亲眼目睹西藏人民充分享有的宗教信仰自由，亲自见证西藏人民的安居乐业。越来越多的人开始以理性客观态度看待西藏现状，反思西方媒体的不实指责。中国政府依照宪法和法律保障公民的宗教信仰自由。对那些至今还在叫嚣“中国政府侵犯西藏人民的宗教和信仰自由”的人，要么根本没到过西藏，要么别有用心。

In recent years, journalists from countries including India have visited Tibet. They witnessed the economic and social achievements, religious freedom and the happy life enjoyed by the Tibetan people. More and more people begin to view the current situation in Tibet in a rational and objective light and rethink the false accusations made by western media. The Chinese government protects citizens' religious freedom according to its Constitution and laws. Those who claim "the Chinese government violates religious freedom of the Tibetan people" either have never been to Tibet or harbor ulterior motives.