We must speak of unity with all nationalities; whether a large nationality or a small nationality, all must be united.
For example, the Oroqen zu has fewer than two thousand people, and we must also unite with them.
As long as they are Chinese people, regardless of nationality, all who oppose imperialism and advocate patriotism and unity, we must unite with them.
Unite, and carry out work according to the different situations in the different regions of each nationality.
In some places, it can be done a bit faster; in some places, it can be done a bit slower. Whether it is done fast or slow, it must first be discussed and agreed upon before being done. If it has not been discussed and agreed upon, it will not be done by force.
Once it has been discussed and agreed upon, and the majority of people approve, then it can be done slowly.
Even doing good things must be done through discussion.
Handling affairs through discussion, this is a point of difference between the Communist Party and the Guomindang.
When the Guomindang's power is great, it oppresses people.
They not only oppress the minority nationalities, but also oppress the majority of Han ren.
The Guomindang does bad things.
Bad things should not be done.
When our cadres have made mistakes, they must be criticized.
Whatever shortcomings and mistakes we have in our work in Xizang, please speak of them. You can speak of anything you disagree with and anything you believe is not beneficial to the people, so that it is convenient for us to correct them.
To correct shortcomings as soon as they arise, this is a point of difference between us and the Guomindang.
In the past two years, the mutual understanding between the Central People's Government and the local authorities of Xizang, as well as the mutual understanding between the Han and Zang nationalities, has progressed. The local authorities of Xizang are drawing closer to the Center day by day, and the Zang and Han nationalities are drawing closer to each other day by day. It is believed that they will draw even closer in the future.
The whole of China is still very backward at present and needs to develop.
This is because of the past oppression by imperialism and the Guomindang.
They have now been driven away by us, and in these four years we have made great progress.
After the restoration of the national economy, the first Five-Year Plan for national construction began this year. It is estimated that after three Five-Year Plans, our heavy industry will be established.
The Soviet Union drove out the imperialists and the bad people in the country thirty-six years ago, and has been building for thirty-six years to achieve its present results.
Our construction will be even faster than the Soviet Union's, because we have the help of the Soviet Union.
China's population is very large, with five hundred and several tens of millions of people; it is the country with the largest population in the world. Its land is also vast. With three Five-Year Plans, it can be built up very well, and will be of even greater help to Xizang.
Whatever the Center has that can help you, it will certainly help you.
To help all minority nationalities, to let all minority nationalities achieve development and progress, is in the interest of the entire country.
The development and progress of all minority nationalities are hopeful.
The development of Xizang's politics, economy, culture, and religion depends mainly on the leaders and people of Xizang themselves discussing and carrying it out; the Center only helps.
This point was written in the agreement on the measures for the peaceful liberation of Xizang.
But to do it still requires a period of time, and it must be done gradually according to your wishes.
If it can be done, do it; if it cannot be done, wait a while. What can be done, and what the majority of people have agreed to, it is also not good not to do.
It can be done a bit more slowly, so that everyone is happy; this way, it will be faster instead.
In short, our guiding principle is to unite, progress, and develop further.

Published according to the *People's Daily* of June 29, 1954.
Note [1] This talk was quoted by Duoga Pengcuo Raojie, head of the Xizang National Day Observation Delegation, in a broadcast speech in the Zang language to the monastic and lay officials and people of Xizang on the Central People's Broadcasting Station from June 25 to 27, 1954.