Policy on Tibet is consistent

Editor's note: Zhu Weiqun, the executive vice director of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was interviewed by Germany's Focus magazine on September 22 about China's policy on the Tibet Autonomous Region and the central government's attitude towards the Dalai Lama. Following is an excerpt of the interview, published in the magazine on Oct 5.

Zhu Weiqun, the executive vice director of the United Front Work Department  (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was interviewed by Germany's  Focus magazine on September 22 about China's policy on the Tibet Autonomous  Region and the central government's attitude towards the Dalai Lama.

Q: Tibet is an ethnic autonomous region of China. What is your perception of the concept of "autonomy"?

A: Due to their different historical and cultural traditions and different ethnic structure, all countries may apply different policies for ethnic autonomy. Each country is entitled to handle domestic ethnic relations according to its unique national conditions. No country has the right to force its own policy onto others.

Q: What rights do the Tibetan people enjoy? Can you give an example of how they exercise their own right to govern their own affairs?

A: Local Tibetans elect the people's congress and governments at all levels in Tibet autonomous region. In line with the principle of the Constitution, they have the right to make decisions on the development of local economy and social affairs. Our ethnic autonomy is related with the unity of the country and union of all ethnic groups. Ethnic autonomy does not exist without them.

In Tibet, 70 percent of local officials are Tibetans at the regional level, 80 percent at the prefecture level and 90 percent at the county and below levels.