On January 23, patriots from all walks of life held a symposium in Lhasa to welcome Losar, the Tibetan New Year and the Spring Festival.

On January 23, patriots from all walks of life held a symposium in Lhasa to welcome Losar, the Tibetan New Year and the Spring Festival. Tibetan returnees as well as domestic and overseas Tibetans together joined the symposium, enjoying sweet tea and butter tea, chatting with friends and family members and wishing each other a happy New Year.

Reporters saw that the even twas filled with ethnic characteristics from the onset: leaders attending the events offered khata and wished happy New Year blessings to the participants.  

Lhakpa Dhundrup, vice-chairman of the Lhasa Municipal Political Consultative Conference, said that the achievements Lhasa has made over the last year must include the wisdom and hard work of many patriotic united front workers, who were attending the events.  

In 1986, guided by their parents, Tsering Dorje and his younger brother returned home to Tibet. “After we returned, the government provided us with many subsidies.” With help from the government, the family received capital for a house and started their own business. “In recent years, Tibet has developed very quickly. Our family’s livelihood has also been very good,” Tsering Dorje said. He said that in future, he would continue to tell overseas Tibetans about these changes so that they can better understand the real situation in Tibet.  

81-year-old returnee Shago Khamdrup Yeshe Bangdeng attends the New Year Tea Party every year. He told reporters that this year, he got to meet many old friends that he does not see often. They sat together and chatted, which made him very happy. 

Shago Khamdrup Yeshe Bangdeng has been settled in Tibet for more than 20 years, and he has witnessed the economic and social developments and changes Tibet has undergone. He said, “I live in Lhasa and can feel the development of the country. I myself have enjoyed the benefits of this development, and I hope this year Tibet will develop even faster.”