The Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region will be established once preparations are complete. Are you still afraid? Do you support land reform? For land reform in the Tibet region, different methods must be adopted—specifically, the methods used in Yunnan.


In Yunnan, there are *tusi* (chieftains), who are also aristocrats. Land reform there was carried out through peaceful consultation, and both the people and the *tusi* were satisfied.


In short, the lives of the aristocrats will remain unchanged, just as before, and may even improve somewhat.


Religious beliefs will also remain entirely as before—whatever people believed in the past, they will continue to believe in the same way.


There is freedom of religious belief; one may first believe and later cease to believe, or first not believe and later come to believe.


In China, there are quite a few religious believers.


There are 800,000 Protestants, 3 million Catholics, over 10 million Muslims, and even more Buddhists—several tens of millions. There are also Taoists, numbering about 10 million.


People’s religious sentiments must not be harmed; even the slightest harm is undesirable.


Unless a person voluntarily renounces their faith, it is very dangerous for others to force them to do so.


This matter must not be handled carelessly.


Even under communism, there will still be religious believers.


The issue in Tibet right now is not about forming cooperatives but about carrying out democratic reform.


When to proceed is for you to decide yourselves.


After the Preparatory Committee of the Autonomous Region is established, this issue can be studied. It must be decided by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni, and by the monastic and lay officials of Tibet, as well as the lamas and abbots of the monasteries.


There must be a period of deliberation—one year, two years, three years—to discuss and reach a common understanding.


Some will support it, and some will oppose it; both sides’ opinions can be expressed.


More deliberation and discussion are beneficial. When everyone speaks out, understanding will gradually be achieved.


Many aristocrats and lamas fear reform. When you return, you must do more work among the aristocrats and lamas. No matter how reform is carried out, their political status and standard of living must be maintained.


We have cooperated very well with the capitalists and the democratic parties. We help each other, criticize mistakes, and progress together.


At the same time, we also use the method of self-criticism, and the democratic parties also engage in self-criticism.


Within minority nationalities, the method of criticism and self-criticism can also be used, replacing the approach of “you overthrow me, I overthrow you” or “you poison me, I poison you.”


You in Tibet can discuss this, abandon old methods, and adopt new ones—using mutual criticism and mutual assistance to handle interpersonal relations.


Mutual trust must replace mutual distrust.


In the past, Tibetans and Han did not trust each other, but gradually, mutual trust can be established.


In the past, Ü-Tsang, Tsang, and Chamdo also did not trust each other; today, mutual trust must also replace that.


Within Ü-Tsang and Tsang themselves, there has also been mutual distrust, just as in the past there was mutual distrust or insufficient trust within various regions and departments among the Han.


In the past, the capitalists were very afraid of us, and some in the democratic parties were also somewhat afraid of us.


After six years, mutual trust between them and us has greatly increased.


In the past, they did not trust the Communist Party, and the Communist Party did not entirely trust them either.


Working together over time, meeting frequently, mutual trust gradually developed.


I suggest that when you return, you carefully study and consult to strengthen mutual trust and mutual assistance among yourselves, and also between you and us.


Regarding democratic reform, this point must be made clear. Do not go back and spread rumors, saying that I declared Tibet must now implement land reform.


I am asking you to go back and deliberate, to report to the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. If it is feasible, proceed; if you all disagree, I can do nothing about it.


I cannot compel you to do anything. I am only offering suggestions; whether you adopt them is your affair. Do not misunderstand.


The study tour of the delegation has been very beneficial. Everyone should exchange experiences with one another.


Tibet is an extraordinary place, accounting for one-eighth of the nation’s total area.


I once told the Dalai Lama: Do not think Tibet is backward and small. Tibet is by no means small.


If Tibet does not join the great family of the motherland, the affairs of this family will be difficult to manage. Tibet holds a very important position in the great family of the motherland.


Another issue is backwardness.


In terms of economy and culture, the Tibetans are backward, but the Han are also backward—more backward than the United States, Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and Poland; more backward than Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and East Germany; and more backward than Japan. Do not think that only you are backward.


Our goal is to enable everyone to develop. We must overcome this backwardness through several five-year plans.


We will support you, but you must also develop yourselves.


You should develop your population, economy, and culture.


Without economic development, the population cannot grow. Cultural development can help economic development.


All of you here are intellectuals, educated people.


Your ordinary people, however, are culturally backward, just like Han peasants.


In the future, all peasants will graduate from university. Everyone will graduate from university—do you believe that?


For the entire nation to graduate from primary school will take seven or eight years. For the entire nation to graduate from junior secondary school will take thirty to forty years—you may live to see it, but some of us will not. For the entire nation to graduate from university will take a hundred years.


Would all Tibetans be willing to graduate from university? This, too, can be achieved.


Tibet’s primary schools still lag behind those in the interior, but in the future, they can catch up.


Tibet must also establish universities.


As long as you work hard and make progress year by year, the goal can be reached.


After the People’s Liberation Army entered Tibet, prices rose, and the Tibetan people suffered some losses. This cannot continue indefinitely.


The PLA came to Tibet to do good things for the people. Otherwise, what is the PLA for?


Building two highways was a good thing, but this only prepared favorable conditions for doing good deeds.


The good deeds must be done by Tibet itself; we can help.


You can also adopt a system of five-year plans, or even annual plans, with the standard being the improvement of the people’s livelihood.


If the people’s livelihood does not improve, nothing can be sustained.


To carry out construction in national regional autonomy areas, you must have cadres from your own nationality and your own scientists.


Young people must study science. There is much science to learn—things like electricity and machinery.


Tibet is vast, and underground there are many valuable resources.


You need personnel skilled in using machinery, agricultural scientists, and geological scientists.


The Han are in the same situation.


Under the rule of the reactionaries, China’s science was underdeveloped, but once we got started, progress has been quite rapid.


For example, at the time of national liberation, we had only about a hundred geological scientists—fewer than two hundred. After six years of work, they have grown to several thousand.


Now, oil is being extracted in the Qaidam Basin, not far from the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. You can go and take a look.


Training personnel takes time—it is not a matter of months or a few years. You must systematically train scientific cadres.


Tibet must become more united internally. Seeing your unity makes me very happy.


When you return to Tibet, you should visit the Dalai Lama more often, listen to his guidance, and broaden your knowledge.


It is not good for Tibet to have two or three heads. We respect the important position of the Panchen Lama and also respect the position of Chamdo. The whole of Tibet should have one chairman, and it is best that the Dalai Lama holds this position.


Have you clarified this? Do you say we are biased toward the Dalai Lama? The Lhasa side, in turn, fears we are biased toward the Panchen Lama. We have no such bias.


Let the Dalai Lama serve as chairman. This is good and beneficial for unity.


Tibet has made great progress in recent years. Acknowledge this progress, and then develop step by step—there is hope.