China’s Tibet: A Story of Progress
中国西藏的发展和宗教信仰自由
Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong’s Signed Article Published on Indian Mainstream Media
驻印度大使孙卫东在印媒发表署名文章
November 6th, 2019
2019年11月6日
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.
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。
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.
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。
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.
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。
Reincarnation of living Buddha is the unique inheritance system of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1653 and 1713 the Qing emperors granted honorific titles to the 5th Dalai Lama and the 5th Panchen Lama, officially establishing the titles of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni and their political and religious status in Tibet. In 1793, the Qing government promulgated the Ordinance by the Imperial House Concerning Better Governance in Tibet (29 Articles), stipulating that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and other Living Buddhas shall follow the procedure of “draw of lots from the golden urn”, and that the selected candidate is subject to approval by the central authorities of China. The current 14th Dalai Lama was approved by the then National Government of China and was enthroned through the “Sitting-in-Bed” ceremony in 1940. The 11th Panchen Lama was selected by draw of lots from the golden urn, approved by the central government of the People’s Republic of China and then enthroned through the “Sitting-in-Bed” ceremony in 1995. In 2007, the Chinese Government promulgated the Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, putting the reincarnation of living Buddhas under of rule of law. At present, there are 1331 Living Buddhas in China, among which 356 are in Tibet. Their reincarnation must all comply with national laws and regulations, religious rituals and traditional customs.
活佛转世是藏传佛教独有的传承制度。达赖与班禅在西藏重要政治宗教地位的取得，始自清朝中央政府于1653年和1713年分别册封五世达赖和五世班禅。1793年，清朝中央政府颁布《钦定藏内善后章程二十九条》规定，大活佛转世必经金瓶掣签认定并报请中央政府批准。现在的十四世达赖于1940年由当时的国民政府批准坐床继位。十一世班禅是1995年经金瓶掣签，由中央政府批准于同年坐床继位。2007年，中国政府颁布《藏传佛教活佛转世管理办法》，将活佛转世纳入法治轨道。目前中国境内共有活佛1331位，其中西藏356名。他们的转世都要遵从国家法律法规、宗教仪轨和历史定制。
On June 23, 2003, China and India signed the Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation Between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India, in which India recognizes that Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and India does not allow Tibetans to engage in political activities against China in India. This commitment was reaffirmed in subsequent bilateral documents between the two countries. China appreciates India’s above position. China hopes and believes that India, as a responsible major country, will stick to its position, honor its commitments, resist interference on Tibet related issues and promote the healthy and stable development of China-India relations.
2003年中印签署《中华人民共和国和印度共和国关系原则和全面合作的宣言》，印度承认西藏自治区是中华人民共和国领土的一部分，不允许西藏人在印度进行反对中国的政治活动。这一承诺在以后的中印双边文件中得以重申。中方对印上述表态表示赞赏，希望并相信印度作为负责任大国能坚定立场，恪守承诺，排除涉藏问题干扰，促进中印关系健康稳定发展。