"There are many milestones in the history of Tibet, some engraved on wooden boards and some on stone, but the abolition of feudal serfdom is engraved in the minds of the people," said Panchen Erdeni Choskyi Gyalpo when visiting the "Milestone of Abolishing the Feudal Serfdom"—Exhibition for the 60th Anniversary of Democratic Reform in Tibet at the Tibet Cultural Museum in Beijing on the afternoon of April 10.

The exhibition is divided into five units: the liberation of more than one million of serfs; historical leaps in economic and social development; preserving outstanding traditional culture; protecting freedom of religious belief; and constructing a beautiful Tibet. The exhibition focuses on the profound changes that have taken place in Tibet's political, economic, social, cultural, and ecological civilization over the last 60 years since democratic reform in 1959.

During his visit, the Panchen Lama couldn't help but frown when he saw historical photos of serfs in old Tibet being oppressed. When he saw more than one million of serfs being liberated and receiving land and livestock, the Panchen Lama showed a happy smile.

The unit on "Building a beautiful Tibet" concentrates on the great achievements in political, economic, cultural, and ecological aspects in the Tibet Autonomous Region in the 60 years since democratic reforms, particularly those made since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Seeing the increasingly prosperous New Tibet and the Tibetan people whose lives have been enriched, the 11th Panchen Lama repeatedly nodded and sincerely praised the brilliant achievements that have been made since democratic reforms were implemented in Tibet.

The 11th Panchen Lama said: "As my predecessor, the 10th Panchen Lama said, 'the year 1959 is a year in which people in Tibet won a decisive victory.' This exhibition will help more people in China and abroad and young people understand the historical truth and cherish the hard-won results of reform and happy lives. At the same time, it also encourages everyone to make persistent efforts to create an even better future."

The 11th Panchen Lama visits the "Milestone of Abolishing the Feudal Serfdom"—Exhibition for the 60th Anniversary of Democratic Reform in Tibet.

Editor: Tommy Tan.