Chinese Premier Li Keqiang joined a panel discussion with the National People's Congress deputies and has called for maintaining the development and stability in the Tibet autonomous region.
Tibet has a special place in China's overall development. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has further made the region a priority for the 18th Party Congress since 2012.
Li said, "This year will see further endeavors in promoting the development and stability in Tibet, which complement each other through focusing on key ways to improve local people's livelihood," vowing to improve public services in education and healthcare.
Li placed a special priority when it comes to Tibet's stability and development. As long as the ecology is stringently protected, Li said that there will be more efforts this year to develop Tibet's competitive industries such as ethnic medicines, clean energy and tourism.
Tibet is at an average altitude of about 4,000 meters. It is a region that is sparsely populated, with about 3.75 million people that belong to multiple ethnic groups living on approximately 1.2 million square kilometers of land.
The annual GDP growth of Tibet hit 11.5 percent in 2016, which ranked first among China's provincial-level regions. According to Li, China will strengthen the support as well as funding for Tibet's transportation and power-grid infrastructure.
Li also vowed to intensify poverty alleviation. He said: "Unity should be strengthened to help all ethnic groups get along with each other, promote religious harmony as well as safeguard social stability and long-term peace."
Besides Li, three other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee joined discussions with NPC deputies. These officials are Yu Zhengsheng, Wang Qishan and Liu Yunshan.
"Any form of separatist actions to achieve Taiwan's independence will be opposed and contained to safeguard peace and stability across the Straits," said Yu, who called for adherence to the policies of two systems, the 1992 Consensus, and policies of peaceful reunification and one country.