Editor's Note: On February 9, 1955, the State Council adopted the resolution on the Founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. A founding ceremony was held in Lhasa on April 22 the following year attended by a delegation sent by the Central Government. It was led by Vice Premier Chen Yi, with Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng as its deputy heads.

Vice-Premier Chen Yi led a Central Government Delegation to visit Lhasa in April 1956 to mark the creation of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. While riding in a car speeding along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, he wrote his Riding Past the Snow Peaks, a poem in which the last two lines read: "Meeting relatives and friends in Lhasa tomorrow, the same family composed of Han and Tibetan renews friendship."

Warm Welcome

On April 17, some 50,000 people from various walks of life in Lhasa went to welcome the delegation in western Lhasa, lining the road for 2.5 km. At one pm, the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Erdeni went to the Greeting Official Hall to meet the visitors. Others there included Zhang Guohua (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Commander of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), Tan Guansan (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Political Commissar of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), Fan Ming (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Vice-Political Commissar of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), as well as those who represented the local government of Tibet, the Gaxag: Galoons Soikang Wangqen Geleg, Dorgar Puncog Raogyi and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei, Assistant Galoon Garsog Jumei Cering Dorje, Acting Galoon Garzham Lobsang Renzin, Acting Chichog Kampus Dalha Lobsang Sandain, representatives of the Panchen Kampus Assembly Zamdong Jigmei, Lhamin Yexei Chuchen, Dainyou Cerin Banjor and Raoxi Gongbo Cedain, and Vice-Chairman Bamda Dorje of the Qamdo Liberation Committee.

The 14th Dalai Lama delivered a welcome speech, in which he made the following remarks:

"At the time when the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region is inaugurated, the CPC, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong have sent a Central Government Delegation composed of representatives of various fraternal ethnic groups, offering the Tibetan people great honor and loving care. I herein express my sincere thanks and respect.

"Vice-Premier Chen Yi makes light of the long trip and arrives in Tibet safely. I myself express my boundless gratitude."

Vice-Premier Chen Yi also spoke:

"We are happy to be here in Lhasa, a beautiful city with a long culture and history. We are also glad to receive such a warm welcome.

"The Central Government Delegation sent by the CPC, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong is composed of representatives of various Democratic Parties and peoples of various ethnic groups in China.

"The CPC Central Committee and the Central Government are very much satisfied with achievements made over the years to consolidate unity among various ethnic groups in the motherland and within Tibet, and the progress that has been made in various fields. We have come to offer congratulations on the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, to visit the PLA troops stationed on the border of China in Tibet, and to listen to the opinions of monks and lay people in Tibet. On behalf of Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhu, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Liu and Premier Zhou Enlai, I hereby express our thanks and greetings to the Tibetan people and the PLA troops in Tibet."

On the 19th, the Tibet Reception Committee held a grand banquet at Xoicha Lingka to honor the Central Government Delegation. The Jormolong Tibetan Opera Troupe performed segments of Soigyi Nyima, the dancing and singing troupe of the 14th Dalai Lama performed classical Tibetan music Garlhu, and the Xigaze Danba Troupe sang and danced. That same evening, the CPC Tibet Work Committee and the PLA Tibet Military Area organized a welcome party in the Military Area's auditorium. 

The 14th Dalai Lama held a grand banquet at Norbu Lingka, his summer palace, on the 21st. On the same day, his mother Raoxi Gyieyun Qenmo and his sister Raoxi Cering Zholma met with the performers of the Mongolian, Boyi, Uygur, Korean and Han ethnic groups of the Central Government Delegation. All these activities were held in a friendly atmosphere.

Founding of the Preparatory Committee

On April 22, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was inaugurated in Lhasa at a meeting attended by 1,083 people. Vice-Premier Chen Yi read out the decree issued by the State Council and, on behalf of the State Council, entrusted the seal of the Preparatory Committee to the Dalai Lama. He also made an important speech:

"On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong, I extend my warm congratulation to the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Erdeni and the Tibetan people! 

"Tibet has made great progress in various fields since its peaceful liberation. The signing of the Agreement on Methods of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and the PLA entry into Tibet guaranteed the Tibetans rid themselves of the imperialist yoke for ever and returned to the big family of the motherland featuring equality and common development. From that moment on, the motherland is united and the national defense along southwestern border is guaranteed. This is an event of great significance in the history of the relationship between Tibet and the motherland, and is also a great contribution made by the Tibetan race to the cause of the unification of the motherland.

"Over the years, the relations between the Central government and the local government of Tibet have progressed greatly. In 1954, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni went to Beijing for the First Session of the First NPC and the Second Session of the Second CPPCC, and were elected State leaders. This is something never seen before in history for leaders of the Tibetan people to participate in the political affairs of China. People sent by the CPC Central Committee and the Central People's Government are not able to do very much for the Tibetan people because of restrictive conditions. But they uphold the State policy for various ethnic groups; this is entirely different from other Han people who worked for Tibet in the past. This is why the people sent by the CPC Central Committee and the Central People's Government enjoy support from the Tibetans. The Tibetans have also gained a new understanding of the Han people from them. In the past few years, an increasing number of the people have been sent by the local government of Tibet to study in the hinterland; they have returned with better understanding of the great motherland. The opening of the Xikang-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet highways has transformed the traffic conditions of Tibet, helped strengthen its ties with the hinterland and the unity among various ethnic groups, and created favorable conditions for the development of the Tibetan economy and culture. The past few years have seen the Central Government undertake various projects in Tibet. All these help clear up misunderstanding and develop close ties; this shows the gradual implementation of the agreement."

Cables and messages of congratulation from Chairman Mao Zedong, Chairman Liu Shaoqi, Premier Zhou Enlai, and the NPC Standing Committee and Civil Affairs Commission of the NPC were read out. The Central Government Delegation presented gifts to the conference, including a china statue of Chairman Mao, palace lanterns, flower pots and various seedlings.

During their stay, delegation members visited Zhaibung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Gandain Monastery, Upper and Lower Tantric Colleges, Naiqoin Monastery, Gendang Monastery, Yaowangshan, Gongdeling, Cemoiling, Xideling, Ceqoiling and Nganyizha Palace. There they distributed alms among monks who performed religious rituals, including recitation of sutras.

Delegation leaders Chen Yi, Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng, as well as Luo Yi, delegation secretary-general and secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee, visited the Lhasa Primary School. Headmaster Dorje Caindain took the visitors to the Grade 6 classroom. Vice-Premier Chen Yi and others hugged pupils and presented them with badges of Chairman Mao and Tian'anmen.

On the 29th, Vice-Premier Chen Yi met monk and lay officials and Grand Living Buddha's of various Tibetan Buddhist sects. He first thanked the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and the local government of Tibet for their warm welcome and explained in detail government policies regarding protection of religious belief and unity among various ethnic groups. 

The CPC Tibet Work Committee, the PLA Tibet Military Area, the local government of Tibet, the Panchen Kampus Assembly and the Qamdo Area Liberation Committee all held welcome feasts to honor the delegation and celebrate the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The delegation in turn held a banquet on April 30 to entertain the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and members of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Vice-Premier Chen Yi said at the banquet: "The Central Government Delegation feels the unity of Tibetan leaders and the Tibetan people. Such a unity will produce enormous strength."

The delegation also presented gifts to monk and lay officials in Tibet.

At the closing ceremony on May 1, the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and Palbha Geleg Namgyi presented gifts to the delegation, Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhu, NPC Chairman Liu and Premier Zhou. Vice-Premier Chen Yi, Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng accepted the gifts, also including those presented to the Central Nationalities Song and Dance Troupe, the Wuhan Peking Opera Troupe and the Chongqing Acrobatics Troupe.

Vice-Premier Chen Yi, who was also PLA marshal, accompanied by Zhang Guohua, commander-in-chief of the PLA Tibet Military Area, reviewed the PLA troops and troops of Tibet. He advised all the troops to work harder for the happy life of peoples of various ethnic groups and for world peace.

Visiting the Potala Palace

On May 6, Vice-Premier Chen Yi, accompanied by the Dalai Lama, visited the Potala Palace. During the visit, he said: "The Potala Palace is a magnificent architecture of the motherland!:

The Dalai Lama told Vice-Premier Chen Yi that "the 5th Dalai Lama succeeded in unifying Tibet in history and the 7th Dalai Lama was very much accomplished in Buddhism."

Vice-Premier Chen Yi smiled and said to the Dalai Lama: "You, the 14th Dalai Lama , will lead whole Tibetan people to build your hometown into a socialist one. Both politics and religion of Tibet will develop further."

Vice-Premier Chen Yi presented hada scarves to the statue of Sakyamuni and stupas of various generations of the Dalai Lama.

On the afternoon of May 6, Vice-Premier Chen Yi held a banquet to entertain the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni, during which he said: "The successful founding of the Preparatory Committee unites the whole of Tibet thanks first of all to efforts made by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni and their spirit of serving the people."  He then proposed a toast: "I wish our unity will last forever just like Tanggulha and the Himalaya Mountains, and our friendship will last like the Tongtianhe and the Yarlung Zangbo Rivers."

From May 12-19, Vice-Premier Chen Yi and the Central Government Delegation visited Xigaze. As they arrived in the city, more than 20,000 people welcomed them. More than 1,000 citizens and some 4,000 monks formed some 30 singing and dancing teams spread for five km along the Nyang Qu River bank to perform.

In his welcome speech, the Panchen Erdeni said: "The presence of the Central Government Delegation will make Tibet more united with fraternal ethnic groups, and will stimulate the further development of Xigaze. It will also facilitate our reform geared to the founding of the united Tibet Autonomous Region and to Tibet's entry into socialism together with various fraternal ethnic groups."

The Panchen Erdeni also held a banquet to honor the Central Government Delegation. Lamas with the Tashilhungpo Monastery performed the longevity dance and crane dance. Artists presented Vice-Premier Chen Yi and others with auspicious hada and grass resembling longevity.
Delegation members visited the Xigaze Primary School, and Vice-Premier Chen Yi presented gifts and toys to the pupils. 

Vice-Premier Chen Yi also reviewed PLA troops stationed in Xigaze, the troops of the Tibetan army, and the garrisons of the Panchen Erdeni. 

Hard to Say Good-Bye

When the Central Government Delegation returned to Lhasa, the Dalai Lama held a banquet in his summer palace known as Norbu Lingka on the afternoon of May 26.

On the 27th, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region held a farewell banquet for the Central Government Delegation. The Dalai Lama said in his speech: "We have been in close contact for over one month. During the period, we are always united and friendly to each other, and we learn from each other and help each other. We have worked successfully for the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This opens up a broad road for our future work and powerfully smashes the discord sown by imperialist spies. I wish the Central Government Delegation will tell the CPC Central Committee, Chairman Mao and peoples of other fraternal ethnic groups that their Tibetan brothers in remote southwestern border are making unremitting efforts toward prosperous socialist society!" 

During the celebrations of the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the first trial Beijing-Lhasa flight was accomplished. The first plane crossed the Kunlun, Bayankala and Tanggulha Mountains and landed at the Damxung Airport at 9:23 on May 26. On the 29th, another plane reached Lhasa by crossing the Henduan Mountains, a move that shortened the distance between Beijing and Lhasa.

The Central Government Delegation left Lhasa for Beijing on May 31. More than 30,000 monks and lay people went to say good-bye to them and officials with the local government of Tibet wished them a safe and happy trip back home.

The Dalai Lama was always with Vice-Premier Chen Yi  and others until they had to say good-bye to each other. When Zhang Jingwu told the Dalai Lama if he needed anything from Beijing, the Dalai Lama replied: "Could you please send us some works of Chairman Mao?" He also told Zhang that he had sent a letter to Chairman Mao on work in Tibet and also for instructions.

Vice-Premier Chen Yi said to the Dalai Lama: "Take care of yourself for the sake of the motherland and Tibet as well."