Chinese Leader Returns to Beijing after Attending Tibet Celebrations

Hu Jintao Returns to Beijing

---

Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao returned to Beijing Monday after attending celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

Accompanying Hu were members of a central government delegation, who were welcomed at Beijing's Xijiao Airport by State Councilor Luo Gan, as well as Zeng Qinghong, a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and other senior officials.

Officials with the Tibetan regional CPC committee and regional government, led by Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and local people in ethnic dress saw the delegation off at Lhasa Airport Monday morning.

The delegation arrived in Lhasa on July 17 for the historical event.

The central government of China signed a 17-article agreement with the local government of Tibet on May 23, 1951. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) was stationed in Lhasa in October the same year.

Delegation members also included Wang Zhongyu, a state councilor, Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.