Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with a representative from the Tibetan religious circles during his visit to the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, August 31, 2005. Jia, leading the central delegation, is in Lhasa to take part in celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the founding of Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua Photo)

Jia Qinglin shakes hands and talks with Basang, a representative of retired cadres, during his visit to the Norbuglinkha park in Lhasa,  August 31, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

    LHASA, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The visiting central delegation led by Jia Qingling attended a gathering of local officials of the Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday, to commemorate the founding anniversary of the southwest China autonomous Region.

Jia Qinglin speaks during a conference marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa, August 31, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

    Jia, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made a speech on behalf of the central authorities.

    Jia spoke highly of the achievements Tibet has made since the establishment in 1965 of the autonomous region and in particular, and since the Third Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in the late 1978.

    He attributed the achievements to the three-generation central leaderships with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin as the core, respectively, and the new central leadership with Hu Jintao as the general secretary.

    In his speech, Jia urged to strictly crack down on separatist activities in accordance with law, so as to ensure social stability and state safety. To adhere to the Party leadership and make substantial efforts to strengthen and improve the building ofthe Party is the fundamental assurance for accomplishing all jobs in Tibet, he noted.

    At the gathering, Jia presented a list of gifts to local peoplein Tibet by the central authorities, which include one solar-oven for each Tibetan household in the rural areas. The first 59,000 solar-ovens will be distributed to poverty-stricken homes, while the rest 336,000 will be paid by the central exchequer and sent toother Tibetan rural households later.

    Present at the gathering were deputy heads of the central delegation Zhou Yongkang, Raidi, Liu Yandong, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, Liang Guanglie and all the other delegations. About 200 local officials attended the meeting.

    On the same day, Jia led the central delegation to join in celebrations at the Norbulingka Park; visited retired leaders of the autonomous region; and had a meeting with noted religious figures and distributed cash and Buddhist sutra among some Tibetan Buddhist lamas.

    The central delegation also visited two best-known Tibetan Buddhist sites in central Lhasa -- Jokhang Lamasery and Potala Palace. Enditem