The president of China Si Jing made a surprise visit on Wednesday Tibetappearing before 20,000 people to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the autonomous region after its annexation by Beijing.

In his speech, Xi praised the local government for the “systematic battle against separation“, Referring to the multiannual resistance of the Tibetans to Chinese domination. He made no mention of Dalai Lama, who has been living in India since 1959.

“To govern, to stabilize and develop Tibet, the priority is political and social stability, ethnic unity and religious harmony,” he said, according to official summary of his speech.

The 72 -year -old leader’s visit came two months after Dalai Lama’s statement that his succession would be decided by his own office and not by Beijing – a position that Chinese leadership rejects, arguing that it only has the power to designate the successor.

The Chinese state insists that the standard of living of Tibett’s residents has improved significantly under its sovereignty, rejecting the complaints of organizations for suppressing religious freedoms and human rights.

In Lhasa, Si encouraged the strengthening of economic and cultural exchanges with the rest of China, the promotion of the national language and the stricter regulation of “religious affairs”, demanding that Tibetan Buddhism adapt “to socialist society”.

The visit coincided with the start of the construction of the largest dam in the world on the Yarlung Changpo River. The project, costs 1.2 trillion. Wan ($ 167 billion), is expected to produce three times more energy from the three canyon barrier, but has caused concerns in India and Bangladesh for possible diversion or control of water flow.