Mysterious Disappearances on the Roof of the World

TAR Standing Committee meeting on February 19

In December, I mentioned that the Ninth Plenary Session of the Ninth Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and the Economic Work Conference of the Regional Party Committee, took place in Lhasa from December 25 to 27, 2020.
The Chinese media spoke of the importance of the conference held ‘at a historic moment’ when the 13th Five-Year Plan ended ‘successfully’ (with hundreds of new villages on India’s borders, among other achievements!!). 

Xinhua added: “The building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects was achieved, and the new journey for the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern Tibet, which is about to begin, is self-evident.”
Though it was an important gathering, the real news was about the absence of Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Chairman of the TAR Regional Congress and senior most Tibetan cadre (he is a full member of the all-powerful Central Committee).
I then wrote: “Gyasltsen was nowhere to be seen. It is too early to speculate, but that there not many explanations as of now; either he caught a bad cold or more (the delegates were seen respecting social distancing during the Plenum, with only alternate chairs occupied by the participants) or Lobsang Gyaltsen is under ‘investigation’.”

Morphed appearance of Lobsang Gyaltsen

He came back and disappeared again
Since then Lobsang Gyaltsen has reappeared, extremely skinny, to disappear again.
But did he really reappear?
On February 19, he was seen attending a meeting of the TAR Standing Committee; Wu Yingjie, the TAR Party Secretary was to convey “the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the 2021 Spring Festival”.
Yu exhorted the cadres to use “the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech as guide to do a good job of the 'Four Major Events’ (one is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the party and another one, the so-called 70th peaceful liberation of Tibet).
The latter probably meant the signature of the 17-Point Agreement in May 1951 and the entry of the People’s Liberation Army in the streets of Lhasa in September 1951.
The meeting also got the feedback from the 10th Central Inspection Team on the ‘rectification work’. 

Lobsang Gyaltsen was seen in the video report, but on closer examination, he was not present.
In a pure Stalinist  way, he was added, the video was morphed (the yellow curtain behind him did not exist in the meeting room).

Another angle shows Che Dralha, the head of the TAR government seating on the left of Wu (it should have been the place of Lobsang Gyaltsen).
Why to show him if he was not present?
This is probably how the Communist Party has always been functioning.

Another MIA
Another senior member was ‘Missing in Action’ (MIA), it is Ding Yexian.
Ding was Executive Deputy Secretary of the TAR Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Regional Consultative Conference (CPPCC), President of the Party School of the District Party Committee and since 2019 and Director of the Office of the Comprehensive Deepening Reform Committee.
A really important cadre.
On January 23, 2021, he even became deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh TAR People's Congress, along with his colleagues Norbu Thondup and Tang Mingying.
Ding is/was also an alternate member of the 19th Central Committee.
But according to a Chinese website dated February 3: “Alternate member of the Central Committee Ding Yexian, has stepped down as Executive Deputy Secretary of the TAR Party Committee.” (Source: Beijing News Political Affairs).
The website added: “According to the latest information from the ‘Introduction to Leaders’ on the official website of the CPC Tibet Autonomous Region Committee, Ding Ye, the executive deputy secretary of the TAR Party Committee, is no longer among the leaders."

Norbu Thondup

Another Central Committee Alternate Member disappears
In the video report of the meeting of the TAR Standing Committee mentioned above, another senior Tibetan cadre, Norbu Thondup, is also MIA.
A day later, he could not again be spotted in another gathering: the TAR Communist Regional Party held a ‘mobilization meeting’ to implement the rectification work of the 10th Inspection Team of the Central Committee (to maintain political sobriety, improve political positions, take up political responsibilities, resolutely implement the rectification and implement the feedback from the central inspection team).
It was in February 20 in the afternoon.
It was presided over by Wu Yingjie, who is also the head the Leading Group of the 10th Inspection Group of the Central Committee.
Lobsang Gyaltsen was MIA, ditto for Ding Yexian and Norbu Thondup.
The disappearance of three members of the Central Committee is certainly a very serious affair which will need to be followed closely.
All is not well on the Roof of the World.

New Appointments
In the meantime, on February 10, it was announced that Zhuang Yan and Wang Haizhou would no longer serve as Vice Chairmen of the TAR People's Government.

The Tibet Daily’s WeChat official account released the list of removals from the Standing Committee of the TAR People's Congress  on February 10, (the decision had been taken at the 27th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the same day).

Wang Haizhou, new member of the Standing Committee

According to The Paper in Hong Kong: “Zhuang Yan, Wang Haizhou no longer serves as Vice Chairman of the TAR People's Government.”

It indicated a promotion for both cadres;  the next day, Wang Haizhou was appointed as a member of the TAR Standing Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department.

Xinhua said: “On the afternoon of the 10th [February], the Propaganda Department of the TAR Party Committee held a cadre meeting and announced the decision on the appointment of the main leaders: Comrade Wang Haizhou was appointed member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department.”

Deputy Secretary of the TAR Party Committee Yan Jinhai attended and delivered a speech. Chen Yongqi, member of the TAR Standing Committee and Director of the Organization Department, announced the appointment decision of the main leaders of the Propaganda Department.

Party Committee Standing Committee Member and Minister of Propaganda Department Wang Haizhou made a statement.

Zhuang Yan

As for Zhuang Yan, he is probably stepping in the shoes of Ding Yexian as TAR Executive Deputy Secretary. 

It has to be  noted that 70 years after the so-called 'Peaceful Liberation of Tibet' and as the Communist Party is preparing to celebrate the event, that are only 5 Tibetans out of 14 members of the Standing Committee (if one counts Lobsang Gyaltsen).

Tibet is not really 'liberated'.

 The presence of the PLA
Incidentally, Lt Gen Zhang Xuejie, the Political Commissar of the Tibet Military District and senior most PLA officer in Tibet attended the meeting of the Standing Committee on February 19. 

He is listed No 6 in the protocol, certainly an insult for the Chinese Armed Forces.

Lt Gen Zhang Xuejie, Political Commissar, Tibet Military District

 

Where is Lobsang Gyaltsen?

Lobsang Gyaltsen (right) with Che Dalha

The Ninth Plenary Session of the Ninth Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of the Communist Party of China and the Economic Work Conference of the District Party Committee were held in Lhasa from December 25th to 27th.
The Chinese media mentioned the importance of the conference held ‘at a historic moment’ when the 13th Five-Year Plan ended ‘successfully’ (with hundreds of new villages on India’s borders, among other achievements!!).
Xinhua added: “The building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects was achieved, and the new journey for the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern Tibet, which is about to begin, is self-evident.”
A communiqué spoke of 2020 as ‘extraordinary year’ for the TAR which made “every effort to control the epidemic and resume work and production. It is expected that the annual growth rate of regional GDP will remain the first in the country [read China]. In the post-epidemic era, [the question is] how should Tibet’s economic work will coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development?”
Some official websites recently spoke of 30 or 40 million tourists on the plateau in 2020 when the rest of the planet remains confined or semi-confined!
During the meeting, Wu Yingjie, secretary of the TAR Party Committee, said that “after careful consideration and careful research, the main expected goals for the economic and social development of the TAR in 2020 are: economic growth at more than 9%, per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents at 10% and 13% respectively. And the urban survey unemployment rate remains at 5.5%, while the consumer price rises at around 3%.”

Happiness Index?
Wu concluded that “Tibet needs to build a new development pattern and expand the industries needed in the Region, so as to provide strong support for farmers and herdsmen to continue to increase their income and improve their happiness index.”
Yes, happiness index!

Remarks of Che Dalha
Che Dalha, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the TAR government, noted that “the expected economic growth target of 2021 is over 9%. The main consideration is the GDP growth rate of Tibet in the first four years of the 13th Five-Year Plan reached 9.3%, which is 2.6 higher than the national average.”
Che pointed out that the fixed asset investment of the entire society will increase by more than 5% while investment will be more than 60 billion yuan: “The TAR has set-up a strong epidemic prevention and control, and tourism is expected to rebound significantly in 2021; the current consumption rebound is obvious... Many factors cooperate with each other to form a strong impetus and drive at a 9% economic growth rate.”
The Head of the Government concluded that that the TAR “must do a good job in innovative development, coordinated development, green development, open development, shared development, and safe development."
He stated: "It is therefore necessary to continue building the seven major industries of plateau: biology, cultural tourism, clean energy, green industry, modern services, high-tech digital, border trade and logistics, and ensure that the output of highland barley is stable at 800,000 tons, and the output of meat, eggs, milk, and vegetables are also stable.”
Incidentally, he spoke about the upgrade the G219 highway cutting across the Aksai Chin in Northern Ladakh (of course, he did not mention this); but he said that it will be a channel to promote the development of rural tourism (in Western Tibet and Xinjiang!).
He finally mentioned the implementation of the ‘two-mountain theory’, i.e. strengthening ecological environment protection, and ensuring that the percentage of days with good ambient air quality remains above 98%. 

Lt Gen Zhang Xuejie

Incidentally, the gathering was attended by Lt gen Zhang Xuejie, the Political Commissar of the Tibet Military District (and member of the TAR Party Committee) and Lt Gen Wang Haijiang, Commander of the Tibet Military Region. 

Where was Lobsang Gyaltsen?
This was indeed an important gathering, but the real news was not about the Happiness Index, it was about the absence of Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Chairman/Director of the TAR Regional Congress and senior most Tibetan cadre (he is a full member of the all-powerful Central Committee). 

Gyasltsen was nowhere to be seen.
It is too early to speculate, but that there not many explanations as of now; either he caught a bad cold or more (the delegates were seen respecting social distancing during the Plenum, with only alternate chairs occupied by the participants) or Lobsang Gyaltsen is under ‘investigation’.
It would be the senior most Tibetan to go through this discipline process.
In 2015, it was reported that Le Dake, a former top Chinese security official in Tibet had being investigated ‘for suspected graft’. It was announced by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog, then headed by Wang Qishan. Reuters commented that it is “a rare example of corruption busters going into the restive and remote region.”

Nur Bekri, former Governor of Xinjiang

In December 2019, a Chinese court sentenced one of China’s most senior Uygur officials to life in prison for taking bribes. Shenyang Intermediate People’s Court in the northeastern province of Liaoning handed down the sentence to Nur Bekri, a former director of the National Energy Administration and ordered the confiscation of all of his personal properties. According to Xinhua, Bekri admitted accepting more than 79 million yuan (US$ 11.2 million) in bribes between 1998 and 2018. He earlier served as Governor of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. 

 Who is Lobsang Gyaltsen?
Lobsang Gyaltsen is a Tibetan born in Drayab in Chamdo City in July 1957.
He joined the Communist Party of China in December 1978 and later graduated from the Central Party School.
He is currently a member of the 19th Central Committee, deputy chairman of the Nationality Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and secretary and director of the Standing Committee of the District People's Congress.

Career resume
•    1976.02-1979.06, teacher of the Department of Medical Affairs and Marxist-Leninist Teaching and Research Section of Tibet Nationalities Institute (TNI)
•    1979.06-1984.05, Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the TNI
•    1984.05-1986.12, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the TNI
•    1986.12-1992.11, Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Committee of the Communist Youth League
•    1992.11—1995.06, Deputy Secretary and Administrative Commissioner of the Nagchu District Committee
•    1995.06-1995.09, Deputy Secretary of the Lhasa Municipal Party Committee
•    1995.09-1996.05, Deputy Secretary and Acting Mayor of Lhasa Municipal Committee
•    1996.05-2003.01, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Lhasa Municipal Party Committee
•    During this period: 2001.03-2002.02, followed a one-year training course for young and middle-aged cadres at the Central Party School
•    2003.01-2006.10, Vice Chairman of the TAR Government
•    2006.10-2007.01, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of TAR, Minister of the United Front Work Department, Vice Chairman of the District Government
•    2007.01—2010.05, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the TAR and Vice Chairman of the District CPPCC Party Group
•    2010.09-2011.11, Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the TAR
•    2011.11—2012.04, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee
•    2013.01-2016.12, Secretary and Chairman of the Party Leadership Group of the District Government
•    2016.12—2017.01 - Chairman of the District Government
•    2017.01—2018.03 - Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the District People’s Congress
•    On January 30, 2018, the TAR Eleventh People's Congress elected Lobsang Gyaltsen as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the TAR People's Congress.
•    Alternate members of the 18th Central Committee, members of the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, and member of the 19th Central Committee.
•    Member of the 11th CPPCC National Committee.

 

The US Ambassador in Lhasa

According to the State Department, the US Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad spoke his mind during a visit to the Roof of the World between May 19 and 25.
A Statement from Washington said that he “urged China to open ‘substantive dialogue’ with exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama and give the Himalayan region’s Buddhists freedom to practice their religion.”
It was the first trip by a US ambassador since 2015.
During his tour, Branstad met “religious leaders and toured historic sites in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Qinghai Province”, Washington said, stating: “The Ambassador raised our long-standing concerns about lack of consistent access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region. …He also expressed concerns regarding the Chinese government’s interference in Tibetan Buddhists’ freedom to organize and practice their religion."
Branstad visited number of places such as the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the Norbulingka Palace and the Sera Monastery; he met with senior Tibetan religious and cultural leaders: “He encouraged the Chinese government to engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, to seek a settlement that resolves differences.”
All this was obviously not reported in the Chinese press.

Meeting with the Party Boss
More importantly, though not said in the US communiqué, Branstad met Wu Yingjie, Tibet’s Communist Party Chief, who explained the ‘huge achievements’ undertaken for guaranteeing the rule of law, religious freedom and traditional culture in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
According to the Communist Tibet Daily newspaper, Wu added that he “sincerely welcomed more American friends to visit” in the Region.
Before the visit, Beijing had announced that it hoped that the ambassador would come to the TAR with any prejudices.

The Encounter
A Chinese official website gave more details of the encounter between the US ambassador and the Party Boss; were also present the two Tibetan members of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Chairman of TAR People’s Congress and Che Dalha, the Governor of Tibet.
Ding Yexian, a Deputy Secretary of the TAR in charge of ‘development’ also participated.
Other members of the TAR Party’s Committee Standing Committee in attendance were Norbu Dhondup, Pema Wangdi and Liu Jiang.
Missing, for obviously reasons was Lt Gen Xu Yong, the Commander of the Tibet Military Region and No 6 in the TAR Standing Committee.
Also missing  on of the Party's Deputy Secretaries Zhuang Yan.
None of the old Tibetan guard, principally, the head of the Tibet CPPCC, Phakpalha Geleg Namgyal, but also also Raidi, Legchok, Raidi or Pasang were seen around. 
Other senior leaders such Sonam Rinchin, Jampa Khendup (Zonglo Tulku) and Lhaba a monk and Party cadre of Jokhang Cathedral were also seen on some of the photos.
The Chinese had obviously taken seriously Branstad’s visit.
The American too as the Ambassador's delegation was rather large.

Incidentally, the Chinese released only one picture (below).

The meeting took place on May 22 afternoon.
The Chinese report says that Wu Yingjie first welcomed Branstad to the TAR; Wu noted that 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States: “Over the past 40 years, China-US relations and the two countries have made historic progress; this has brought great benefits to the two peoples, and made important contributions to world peace, stability, and prosperity,” he observed.
Of course, there was no question of the on-going trade war, started by President Trump.
Wu reminded his guest that in December last year, President Xi Jinping met with President Trump in Argentina and “reached important consensus”, which was an indication of the direction in which Sino-US relations were moving. Wu said that was hoped that “the two sides would work together …in the same direction.”
The Party boss added that in accordance with the principles and directions set by the two heads of state, “we will expand our cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, and jointly promote Sino-US relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability;” all this for the benefit the people of the two countries and the people of the world.

Then Wu Yingjie briefly introduced the “great achievements made by the TAR under the leadership of the Communist Party of China in safeguarding the freedom of religious belief, traditional culture and ecological environment protection, and people's livelihood, education, employment, and poverty alleviation.”
What is most surprising is that this report, in Communist jargon, appeared more than five days after the meeting took place …and it is completely different from the US account.
Wu concluded that he hoped that Ambassador Branstad’s visit would further deepen his own understanding of the TAR and that what he will see during his visit, would be an good introduction “to a prosperous and developing Tibet and its people from all walks of life.”
Wu sincerely welcomed “more American friends to come to Tibet for sightseeing, exchanges and cooperation.”

Branstad's Answer

Jampa Khendup (Zonglo Tulku) and Liu Jiang

According to the Communist mouthpiece, Terry Branstad expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome. He would have observed that the Region “has beautiful natural scenery and profound historical culture, and its economic and social development is very fast. The visit left a deep and beautiful impression.”
The report concluded by noting that the two sides “exchanged views on issues of common concern.”
That must have been the most interesting part of the discussion, but it will probably remain classified for many years.
Did Branstad ask about the fate of the Panchen Lama, kidnapped 20 years ago? Probably not!

It is difficult to say if the visit will be beneficial for the Tibetans, as for the Chinese, it was probably a gesture to cool down the tensions, in the midst of the trade war.
Beijing can’t fight the US on too many fronts at the same time.
One could wish that the Indian Ambassador to China would also visit Lhasa and recall his hosts about the century old relations between Tibet and India.

Postcript
After writing this post, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang came back on the visit,
he asserted: "We welcome Ambassador Branstad to visit Tibet and hope he will have a first-hand understanding of economic and social development, as well as significant changes in people's livelihood over the past 60 plus years since the peaceful liberation of Tibet."
He repeated the same argument: "We hope Ambassador Branstad will visit [visited] Tibet in an objective manner and draw [drew] his own conclusion with respect for facts and without prejudice."
He was also aksed about ambassadors of other countries: "Whether it is the US ambassador or other countries' diplomatic envoys to China, consulting with relevant parties is necessary before making visits to specific places in China," Lu answered in diplomatic jargon.
No harm for the Indian Ambassador 'applying'.

 

 

 

 

 

Tibet's Representation at the 19th Congress

Can Cui make it to the Central Committee

China has ‘elected’ 1,909 civilian delegates for the 19th Party Congress to be held in October.
They are representing Central Departments working under the CCP Central Committee (CC), Central State organs, Central Enterprises and China’s provinces and centrally-administered Municipalities.
How they were ‘elected’ is not clear.

Jayadev Ranade of the Center for China Studies and Analysis explains: “The Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) members are, as per practice, all Delegates to the 19th Party Congress. Pertinently and possibly because of the focus this year on poverty alleviation, all PBSC members represent the poorer provinces. Xi Jinping is the Delegate from Guizhou, Li Keqiang from Guangxi, Zhang Dejiang from Inner Mongolia, Yu Zhengsheng from Xinjiang, Liu Yunshan represents Yunnan, Wang Qishan is the Delegate from Hunan and Zhang Gaoli from Shaanxi.”
Ranade quotes the Hongkong media: “at least eight prominent omissions from the list of Delegates to the upcoming Congress. All are either Full or Alternate members of the 18th CCP Central Committee and all are, interestingly, past members of the Communist Youth League (CYL). They are also eligible in terms of age."
The eight losers are:

• Qin Yizhi - Head of the CYL; CC Member; 51 years.
• Zhao Yang - Deputy Director of General Administration of Sports; Alt Member CC; 54 years.,
• Deng Kai – Deputy Party Chief of the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU); Alt Member CC; 57 years.
• Liu Jian – Chairman, State Development and Investment Corporation; Alt Member CC; 47 years.
• Zhang Zhijun – Director Taiwan Affairs Office; CC Member; 64 years.
• Nur Bekri – Director, National Energy Administration; CC Member; 55 years. Yang Yue – Vice Governor, Jiangsu Province; Alt CC Member; 49 years.
• Wang Anshun - Head, State Council Development Research Centre; CC Member; 59 years.

The PLA list
More interesting perhaps are the changes in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The list of representatives of the PLA and People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) has also come out. The PLA has a total of 253 delegates, while the PAP has 50 representatives.
A massive reshuffle of the PLA’s generals, not only at the Group Army (Corps) level, but at the top of the hierarchy too, is taking place and two top generals got the sack hardly a month before retiring.
Gen Fang Fenghui, the equivalent of the US Chief of Defence Staff, was replaced as Chief of the PLA’s Joint Staff Department by Gen Li Zuocheng, a Xi protégé and former Commander of the Chengdu Military Region (under which Tibet used to come).
Fang and Gen Zhang Yang, another CMC member will not even participate in the forthcoming Congress. The rumour mill said that they were being ‘investigated’, a term not usually auguring well for the targeted person. This may indicate bad days ahead for the generals.

The Lessons of Impermanence
Reading these lists is a teaching about impermanence.
Remember the case of Lt Gen Yang Jinshan, a former Deputy Commander of the former Chengdu Military Region (MR), who served several years in Tibet. He was a rising star of the PLA; in 2012, he was even promoted to Central Committee, the Party's top heaven; at that time, he was senior to his direct boss, Li Zuocheng, who then commanded the MR.
Today, Yang Jinshan is languishing jail, being 'investigated' while Li Zuocheng is the powerful Chief of the Joint Staff Department.
But in this game, connections are important, not to say vital.
On September 1, Gen Han Weiguo, only 61, was appointed commander of the PLA Army and Gen Ding Laihang, 60, commander of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). Gen Han served in Fujian in the 1980s at the time Xi was Deputy Mayor of Xiamen, while Gen Ding’s career also overlapped when the latter was Governor of Fujian Province.

Other Surprises
The list of PLA’s delegates has some other surprises. The 303 ‘elected’ members belong to 31 different units, compared with 19 in 2012; one example, the new PLA Rocket Force is now represented.
More than 90 per cent of those ‘elected’ will be first time attendees, representing a new generation of officers who will owe their rise to Chairman Xi only.

Ethic Representations
Though there is a slight rise in the number of ‘ethnic’ delegates (6% of the delegates are ethnic minority officers, from 4.6% in 2012), their number is relatively small and they don’t occupy important posts, except for one Tibetan who is said to be a Major General.
Asia Times noted: “The Manchus and Tibetans will each send three delegates, while the Uyghur, Hui and Tujia will each put forward two. The Zhuang, Xibe, Korean, Qiang, Bai and Naxi ethnicities will each send one delegate to the Congress.”
Tibet is represented by a senior officer, Thupten Trinley alias Tidan Dan (土旦赤列), a Deputy Commander of the Tibet Military Region and two ladies, Kaslang, alias Gesangba and Sonam Dolma. Their qualification or designation is not mentioned.
Lt Gen Xu Yong (许 勇), the Commander of the PLA Tibet Military Region is also present in the list.
A Chinese lady, Zhang Aiying (张爱英), a communication officer and instructor posted in the Tibet Military Region has also been ‘elected’.
That is not much.
One can also note the absence in the list of Lt Gen Diao Guoxin (Political Commissar, Tibetan Military District), Maj Gen Song Baoshan (Commander, People's Armed Police, TAR) and Lt Gen Xiao Tang (Political Commissar, People's Armed Police, TAR).
Lt Gen Peng Yong (Commander of the Xinjiang Military District) has also disappeared from the radars.
[Please read the corrections sent by a reader, posted below]

The civilian list
The civilian list is posted below.
Noticeable is the absence of the most senior Tibetan official, namely Pema Thinley, alias Padma Choeling, an out-going member of the CC (and the only Tibetan in the CC).
Is Choeden La a wrong spelling for Che Dralha, the head of the TAR Government.
[Please read the corrections sent by a reader posted below. Some of the errors are due to the spelling mistakes in the list available to me.]
Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and an Alternate Member of the CC is in the list, making illegible for a seat in the CC.
In the list of 29 delegates, one finds six out of 13 or 14 members of the Standing Committee of the Regional Communist Party (Wu Yingjie, the TAR Party Secretary, Lobsang Gyaltsen, Ding Yexian, one of the TAR Party Deputy Secretary, Wang Yongjun and two relatively junior Tibetan cadres, Pema Wangdue and Penpa Tashi).

Will Cui represent Tibet?
Apart from Lobsang Gyaltsen, a possibility is that Cui Yuying, one of the few ‘ethnic’ Tibetans who today serves in a senior position in the Central government in Beijing, could become the ‘Tibetan representative’ in the CC.
Born in 1958 in Changle County of Shandong Province, she joined the Communist Party in 1980, and graduated from Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College with a Bachelor Degree in 1982. After occupying different junior posts in Tibet, she served as the Director in the Publicity Department of CPC’s TAR Regional Committee from 2006 to 2011.
In December 2011, she was transferred as Deputy Director of the Central Office for Overseas Publicity in Beijing; from 2012 to 2015, she became Deputy Director of the Information Office of the State Council.
In February 2015, she became Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, a ministerial level post.
Will she make in the CC? The bets are opened!
I will mention in a separate post the Tibetans ‘elected’ in the Qinghai, Yunnan and Sichuan delegations.

The list of the delegates to the 19th Congress has been published.

In red, members of the Standing Committee of the TAR Regional Party

1	Ding Yexian	Han	TAR SC
2	Ma Shengchang	Han
3	Wang Yongjun	Han	TAR SC
4	Ba Zhen	Tibetan	Female
5	Pema Yangchen	Memba	Female
6	Pema Wangdue	Tibetan	TAR SC
7	Nyima Dangqu	Tibetan
8	Penpa Tashi	Tibetan	TAR SC
9	Penpa Tashi	Tibetan	ChaThongMon
10	Da Boer	Lhoba
11	Zhu Zhongkui	Han
12	Ren Houmin	Han
13	Xiang Batashi	Tibetan
14	Xiangba Pincao	Tibetan	Jampa Phuntsok?
15	Choedon la	Tibetan	Could it be Che Dralha?
16	Tsering Paldon	Tibetan	Female
17	Tsering Yangchen	Tibetan
18	Xu Chengcang	Han
19	Wu Yingjie	Han	TAR SC
20	Zhang Yanqing	Tibetan
21	Abu	Han
22	Lhatso	Tibetan	Female
23	Sonji Tashi	Tibetan
24	Lhopon Dhondup	Tibetan	Is it Norbu Thondup, TAR SC?
25	Lobsang Gyaltsen	Tibetan	TAR SC
26	Yao Chi	Tibetan	Female
27	Tan Haiyu	Han	Female
28	Ceng Wanming	Han	Probably Zeng Wanming, TAR SC
29	Jampa Dolma	Tibetan	Female

A Tunnel under the Everest does not make sense

A tunnel under the Everest?

A few days ago, The Times of India reported that China was planning to build a 540-kilometre strategic high-speed rail linking Tibet and Nepal and passing through a tunnel under Mt Everest, adding that the move “could raise alarm in India about the Communist giant's growing influence in its neighbourhood.”
The Times of India quoted an article in the official The China Daily: "A proposed extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the China-Nepal border through Tibet would boost bilateral trade and tourism as there is currently no rail line linking the two countries. The line will probably have to go through Qomolangma so that workers may have to dig some very long tunnels," a railway 'expert' called Wang Mengshu told The China Daily.
The Chomolungma (Qomolangma for the Chinese) is another name for Mount Everest.
The Times of India commented: “This is the first time a tunnel plan has been revealed because China had earlier discussed extending the Qinghai-Lhasa line to the Nepalese border without digging a tunnel.”
Strange news indeed!
I mentioned several times on this blog the opening of the new landport near Kyirong in Tibet. For centuries, it has been the traditional land route between Nepal and Tibet. In the recent years, China invested millions of dollars to prepare the opening this trade port with Nepal.

Kyirong new landport

In fact the article quoted by The Times of India mentions the opening of Kyirong, it is called Kurung in the article, which says: “A proposed extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the China-Nepal border would boost bilateral trade and tourism, experts said, as there is currently no rail line linking the two countries. If the proposal becomes reality, bilateral trade, especially in agricultural products, will get a strong boost, along with tourism and people-to people exchanges."
It quotes the same Wang Mengshu.
As reported here a few days ago, Lobsang Gyaltsen, the head of the Tibet Autonomous Region’s government told the Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav during the latter’s visit to Lhasa that “China plans by 2020 to extend the railway by 540 kilometers to Kerung [Kyirong], the Chinese town nearest Nepal and a recently opened border trade port.”
President Yadav answered that he expected that a closer connectivity would generate more opportunities for both nations.
The China Daily clearly says: “In August, a 251-kilometer extension of the line was completed from Lhasa to Xigaze [Shigatse]. The new segment would extend from there to Kerung [Kyirong].

So, why to dig a tunnel below the Everest (located in Eastern Nepal) to bring a train in Western Nepal? It makes no sense.

The China Daily mentioned the rationale for opening Kyirong landport: “Chinese officials see even greater opportunities beyond the border.”
It also says that during Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Nepal in December 2015, Wang asked Kathmandu to conduct a feasibility study for extending the railway line all the way to Kathmandu …beyond.
‘Beyond’ means towards India.
Hu Shisheng, director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told The China Daily that “the line connecting Tibet to Nepal should add new momentum to the region's tourism and service sectors because the existing roads cannot satisfy demand for passenger and cargo transport. The bottleneck has resulted in sluggish trade growth.”
He clearly means through the Kyirong port.
Another Chinese article says: “The Qinghai-Tibet Railway will be extended by 540 kilometers from Shigatse to Gyirong (or Kerung), the nearest Chinese town bordered with Nepal by 2020. Losang Jamcan [Lobsang Gyaltsen], chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, said to Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav during his visit to Lhasa on April 1.”
As mentioned on this blog, President Yadav attended the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, where he met with President Xi Jinping: “China released the ‘Belt and Road’ plan, vowing to promote border trade, tourism and cultural cooperation between China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and China's neighboring countries, such as Nepal,” explained The China Daily.
As reported, Yadav said: “The Tibet Autonomous Region has played an important position in the Sino-Nepal relations. The interconnection of airlines, roads and ports between the TAR and Nepal has brought opportunities and mutual prosperity for both parties. I'm confident in the ongoing trade cooperation with Tibet."
President Yadav further asserted: “Nepal has long been expecting that a new Tibetan railway which would extend to the border areas to boost bilateral trade and tourism between the two countries.”

The National Highway 219 (Aksai Chi road)

The China Daily noted: “Nepal is an important transit point between China and South Asia, and a major chunk of the two countries' expanding trade has been conducted through Tibet. With this newly announced Xigaze [Shigatse] to Jilong [Kyirong] section of the railway in five years, better road and rail connections could be expected between Nepal and China.”
It is still a mystery how the tunnel under the Everest has come into the picture for a project located in Eastern Nepal.
Moreover, the Shigatse-Kyirong railway line makes sense as it could (and will) later be extended to Kashgar in Xinjiang by following the National Highway 219 (also known as the Aksai Chin road).
The ‘Everest scoop’ is probably a diversion from this far more strategic project.

Nepal's vassal status: Yadav in Tibet

Where was Chen Quanguo?

It is not an April Fool, but it happened on April 1.
After attending the Boao Forum (The ‘Asian’ Davos) the Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and his entourage stopped for a couple of days in Tibet.
As the report did not appeared in English in the Chinese press, I give here a rough translation of The Tibet Daily's article.
While receiving Yadav, Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Chairman of the local government stated that it was the first time in five years that a Nepalese President visited the ‘Autonomous Region’, although it was Yadav's second visit to Tibet.
‘Tibetan’ leaders such as Padma Choling, Lobsang Gyatsen, Wu Yingjie, Deng Xiao-gang, Qizha La (Choedrak), Rui Lian, Tenzin Namgyal, Saron Ping were in attendance to receive President Yadav.
When he arrived at Gongkar Airport, Yadav and his entourage were received by Lobsang Gyatsen.
Xinhua asserts that ‘the two sides held cordial and friendly talks’ during the visit. Lobsang Gyaltsen received the Nepalese party and gave a speech on behalf of the regional party committee, the government and on behalf of the regional party secretary Chen Quanguo, (who seems to have been missing in action).
Gyaltsen extended a warm welcome “on behalf of the region's more than 300 million (sic) people of all nationalities in Tibet and wished the visit a complete success.”
He noted that President Xi Jinping and President Yadav had a cordial meeting during the Boao Forum and both sides had decided to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the field of development, to deepen law enforcement (probably against Tibetan refugees in Nepal) and to enhance their security cooperation (again against the Tibetans), while expanding cultural cooperation, strengthening coordination in multilateral areas and conducting in-depth exchanges.
A big program indeed!
Gyaltsen spoke of the consensus between the 2 countries “which will greatly help to promote a comprehensive and in-depth cooperative partnership between China and Nepal, but also will uphold the traditional friendship as well as exchanges and cooperation between China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal in the future.”
Why do the Tibetan leaders need to always say ‘China’s Tibet’? It would be strange to write ‘India’s Haryana’ or India’s Kerala’. It is perhaps an old habit dating from the time Tibet was not China's.
Lobsang Gyatsen continued to say that the TAR’s Communist Party and his Government attach a great importance to further develop the traditional friendly relations with Nepal.
He reminded the Nepalese President that last year, he had led a TAR delegation to Nepal for a five-day visit; at that time the Government of Nepal provided them “a high standard of courtesy and hospitality and the interview with His Excellency the President [Yadav]  is still fresh in my memory,” said Gyaltsen, who added that he hoped that the present visit would be an occasion for the Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal to further enhance their understanding and to reach a broad consensus for future great achievements.
Gyalsten also affirmed: “In recent years, bilateral exchanges have been multi-faceted; multi-level cooperation helped to maintain a vigorous growth.”
The TAR government Chairman noted that friendship and cooperation between the two countries help to confidently look into the future of the relations between Nepal and Tibet.
He appreciated Nepal firmly supporting China on Taiwan-related issues, and for not allowing any forces (read Tibetan refugees) who would like to use the Nepalese territory to engage in anti-China activities, thereby effectively safeguarding the stability of the Sino-Nepalese border area.
He said that this was highly appreciated and thanked Nepal for this.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and China, the Tibet Autonomous Region will take the opportunity to continue to unswervingly implement the principles and policies of the central government's diplomatic work with the neighbours and further strengthen and promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, tourism, police, port construction, by increasing China’s aid to Nepal, deepening of the Sino-Nepalese friendship and achieving shared outcomes and promoting common development.
Lobsang Gyaltsen briefed the Nepalese President on the present economic and social development of the Tibet Autonomous Region: “under the loving care (sic) and the selfless support of Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and the people, cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in the region, through these joint efforts, Tibet today witnesses a fast economic development while the people's livelihood is continuously improving.
Then Gyaltsen gave the usual lecture about good ecology and environment, national unity and progress, religious harmony, social harmony and stability between people of all nationalities who are working together to achieve the objective of a moderately prosperous society [the first ‘comprehensive’ of Xi Jinping] and China’s great rejuvenation, i.e. the Chinese dream.
Lobsang Gyaltsen invited President Yadav and other senior Nepalese officials to attend the second session of the Tibet China International Fair of Tourism and Culture.
President Yadav in his reply to Lobsang Gyaltsen remembered his first visit to Tibet 5 years earlier. He was very happy to be back, he said, adding that the mountains and rivers in Nepal are similar, there are also many cultural similarities between Nepal and Tibet, and the two countries have a long, deep, time-tested and comprehensive history of cooperation. Nepal adheres to the one-China policy and will never allow any forces to engage in any anti-China activities on Nepalese territory (i.e. the Tibetans)
In recent years, Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region have deepened their friendly exchanges through frequent high-level visits. He especially mentioned Lobsang Gyaltsen’s last year visit to Kathmandu: “This successful visit to Nepal have taken the bilateral relations to a new height, while maintaining close bilateral police cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime [Tibetan refugees crossing into Nepal]; the economic exchange has become increasingly active, growing, and are expanding in the fields of bilateral trade, investment and tourism. The cooperation is based on a good foundation; Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region have important channels of communication, by aviation and roads [and soon train], he added.
The forthcoming railway to Nepal will create interoperability on both sides, it will be an opportunity to share more and create a huge prosperity for Nepal.
The Nepal-Tibet trade cooperation has a huge potential and is poised to thrive; Nepal is grateful to Tibet Autonomous Region for helping to improve people's lives in northern Nepal border region, said Yadav.
The Nepalese President mentioned the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Nepal and China during which a series of activities will be held; it is bound to take the Nepal-China friendship into a higher level; it will breathe a new vitality into the Nepal-China relations.
Nepal is willing to further deepen the close cooperation between Nepal and the TAR by participating in the China International Tourism and Culture Fair which will enhance mutual trust, said President Yadav.
During his stay in Tibet, President Yadav and his entourage visited the Lhasa railway station and the Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse.
They also saw the Lhasa National Economic and Technological Development Zone and the National Agricultural Technology Park. They visited a barley beer production unit and the Yak Museum in Lhasa.
Before leaving, President Yadav praised Tibet for its great achievements in terms of infrastructure, agricultural science and technology innovation, development of special industries, cultural heritage protection, improved urban and rural areas and ecological and environmental protection.
The Nepalese President also stated that the rapid development and changes in Tibet, the social stability and harmony, the vigor and vitality of the region deeply impressed him. He wished the Sino-Nepalese friendship generations of comprehensive cooperative partnership at highest level.
On April 1 at noon, President Yadav left for Nepal.
He had said what the Chinese wanted to hear from a vassal.
Lobsang Gyaltsen went to the Gongkar airport to see President Yadav off; he invited him visited Tibet again. Apparently, Yadav accepted ‘with pleasure’.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chun too, Urban Development Minister of Nepal Dr. Narayanan Khadka were present during the visit.
E-Kantipur, a Nepali newspaper further reported: “The rail connectivity will improve trade, tourism and people-to-people relations between Nepal and China, Losang Jamcan [Lobsang Gyalsten], chairman of Tibetan Autonomous Region, told President Ram Baran Yadav during their meeting in Lhasa.”
The article added: “China has already expressed its readiness to extend its rail network up to Nepal. During his Nepal visit in December last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had requested the Nepal side to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed railway extension project from the Tibetan city of Shigatse to Kathmandu and beyond. “
And beyond…
Minister for Urban Development Narayan Khadka said that China promised an aid of Rs 14 billion to Nepal: ‘this was the major highlights of the visit’. Obviously!
In the meantime, Reuters reported: “Buddhist temples and monasteries in Tibet must become propaganda centres for the ruling Communist Party, where monks and nuns learn to ‘revere’ science and appreciate the party's love.”
It quoted an article written by Chen Quanguo in the party magazine Qiushi; the Part boss in Tibet said that more than 1,700 temples and monasteries and 46,000 monks and nuns had to be seen by the government as ‘friends’, adding “Let the monks and nuns in the temples and monasteries have a personal feeling of the party and government's care and warmth; let them feel the party's benevolence, listen to the party's words and follow the party's path."
Chen further argued: “Monks and nuns should not have to go out of their temples or monasteries to understand the party and government's policies and social progress, or Tibet's peace, stability and good fortune, so as to be guided to follow a path of revering scientific culture.".
By the way: where was Chen Quanguo, Tibet's Party boss during President Yadav’s visit to Tibet? As the Secretary of the Party, he should have been in Lhasa to receive the Nepalese President. He was missing in action.
It is strange.
Is he on his way out?

Diverting Tibet's waters to China

A couple of days ago, China Tibet News reported that the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) will soon “launch a natural drinking water project on account of its large repository of freshwater.”
The information was given by Gangqen [Gangchen?], head of the TAR Work Forum on Science and Technology. Gangchen commented that the project will be carried after “carefully with consideration of ecological protection …and provide new impetus to the region’s steady economic growth.”
What does it mean?
Tibet is going to bottle its waters and export it to the Mainland.
Of course, there is no doubt that the plateau's waters are purer than Beijing's or Shanghai's.
The Chinese website explains: “Unlike the rest of the country, which is struggling with water shortages and deteriorating water environment, Tibet boasts a pristine environment and has a large repository of freshwater.”
The local government plans to exploit 28 mineral water springs. Tibet, with its 190 million tons of water reserves, could benefit from the ‘export’, say the Chinese authorities.
Already in January, Xinhua had announced that the TAR had identified its fresh water resources “as a new sustainable economic growth pillar, which has the potential to support efforts to reduce poverty and boost industrial development in the region.”
Lobsang Gyaltsen, the chairman of the TAR government stated during the Regional People’s Congress that Tibet has produced 300,000 tons of bottled water in 2014: “the sector was an important driver of economic growth,” he added.
Moreover, Gyaltsen suggested that “to fully exploit its potential, Tibet needed brand-driven strategies.”
According to Beijing’s statistics, the TAR’s growth was 12 % in 2014; and as the Chinese Government was keen to “strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection,” water bottling is the solution!
The local government in Lhasa has now decided to promote mineral water on a grand scale: “mineral water industry has been singled out as a suitable sector to boost the local economy”, said Gyaltsen.

Qiu Chuan, the deputy director of Tibet's industry and information technology bureau, told the media that the strong demand for high-quality mineral water “had upped investors' confidence in Tibet's mineral water industry”.
The TAR has today 30 mineral water production lines with a combined production capacity of 2 million tonnes a year, said Qui.
Mainland ‘water producers’ such as Nongfu Spring and Bright Food Group, already signed 16 agreements with the TAR government for mineral water exploitation; the companies promised to invest 3.6 billion yuan (5.79 million U.S. $) in the new bottling venture.
It is going to be big: the TAR government has made plans for a 40 billion yuan (6.5 billion US $) ‘water’ industry for 2019.
I wonder if any environment assessment for setting these huge bottling factories was done?
Probably not!
And this is while waiting to divert the Yarlung Tsangpo (Siang/Brahmaputra) … and the Indus.

China: more and more dams in Tibet

A few weeks ago, I questioned the real objective of the newly launched Sichuan-Tibet electricity grid.
Was the purpose to bring electricity from the mainland to Tibet or vice-versa?
At that time, the Chinese press said that the purpose was the former.
Now China Tibet Online speaks of a "Breakthrough in outward power transmission from Tibet".
What does it mean?
It signifies more and more dams will be required in the future ...to feed the outward power transmission and some of these dams will be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra.
Chinanews.com announced: "Tibet Autonomous Region is expected to see a breakthrough in outward electric power transmission this summer."
It quotes the Tibet Electric Power Company Limited, to say: "when the three power stations in Dzam [Zangmu?], Dondup [Pangduo?] and Guoduo [located on the upper reaches of the Mekong River in Tserwe Township] are put into operation，Tibet will begin transmitting electricity to other provinces for the first time. This will be achieved with the help of Sichuan-Tibet Power Grid and Qinghai-Tibet DC Networking Project."
It is not what China was saying a few weeks ago:

Xinhua reported that the opening of the 1.08 billion U.S. dollar project linking Chamdo in the TAR and the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze in Sichuan Province, aims at "putting an end to the electricity shortages of the 500,000 residents of the Chamdo region and ease power strain in Tibet as a whole".

Now, the Chinese website admits: "The two lines will increase Tibet’s outward power transmission capacities to 350,000 and 20,000 kilowatts, or 1 billion and 600 million kilowatt hours a year respectively."
Beijing has invested a lot of money in the project: the Sichuan-Tibet Power Grid and Qinghai-Tibet DC Networking Project cost 4.6 billion US dollars. It was part of the 12th Five-year Plan Period (2011-2015).
China Tibet Online affirms: "Together with the Central Tibet Power Grid and Chamdo Power Grid, the two lines will certainly ease local power shortages and boost economic development in eastern Tibet. It is believed that the power grids in Tibet will cover 58 counties and benefit 2.18 million local residents by the end of the year."
Now comes the most telling part:

The foundation work for outward power transmission will be advanced steadily in 2015 by accelerating hydroelectric development in the middle section of the Yarlung Zangbo River [Brahmaputra], said Losang Jamcan [Lobsang Gyatsen], chairman of Tibet's regional government during the Third Session of the Tenth Tibet People's Congress.
Investment in power grid construction in Tibet is predicted to hit a record 60 billion yuan (9.7 billion US dollars) in the 13th Five-year Plan Period. By 2020 Tibet can bid farewell to the history of its power shortage and realize large-scale outward power transmission. The capacities in 2020, 2025 and 2035 will reach 20 million, 40 million and 110 million kilowatts respectively, industry analysts said.

In 2015, China will be "accelerating hydroelectric development in the middle section of the Yarlung Zangbo River."
The conclusion of the website was "Tibet is abundant in water power resources and will serve as an important energy base for the west-east electricity transmission project."
In other words, more and more dams will be built in Tibet ...to feed electricity to China. It will have serious consequences for India and Bangladesh.

More Tibetan refugees in Nepal?

Lobsang Gyaltsen with the President of Nepal

What was Lobsang Gyaltsen, the Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region's (TAR) government doing in Kathmadu?
According to the E-Kantipur, "Tibet region chief stressed better ties in security".
One funny thing, the Nepali media calls him 'Luo Sang Jiang Cun', it is the Chinese way to spell Lobsang Gyalsten's name! Others write Luo Can!
Gyaltsen (Mr. Luo, for the E-Kantipur) apparently urged Kathmandu "to put in place measures to curb 'anti-China activities' in Nepal."
Leading a six-member 'Tibetan' delegation to Kathmandu, Gyaltsen met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey.
What did they talk about?
"Bilateral issues including Tibetan assistance to bordering Nepali districts figured", says the Nepali paper which note that 'Luo' did not utter the word ‘refugee’ while speaking about his countrymen who have taken refuge in Nepal, but he repeatedly spoke of 'anti-Chinese elements'.
Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, the spokesperson of the Home Ministry said that "he urged us to curb anti-China activities and take stern action against those involved in such activities.”
He sought a better coordination between security agencies on both sides of the international border to curb such 'Tibetan' activities.
Home Minister Bam Dev was quoted as saying: “The Chinese side seems worried about increasing criminal activities along the Nepal-China border".
Why is Lobsang Gyalsten so obsessed with his countrymen activities in Nepal?
It is probably due to the forthcoming opening of Kyirong landport between Nepal and Tibet.
A few weeks ago, the official China Tibet Online reported: "The Gyirong [Kyirong] Port in southwest China’s Tibet bordered with Nepal will be formally opened in October this year. The opening of the Gyirong Port has been listed in the key work plan of national ports in 2014."
The website had also announced that a cross-border China-Nepal Gyirong Port Economic Cooperation Zone to be soon established; further the Gyirong Port will become a tourist destination for Han Chinese (not Tibetans).

One of the consequences of the opening of a new port between Tibet and Nepal could be the escape to Nepal of Tibetans resenting the Chinese rule.Gyaltsen told the Nepali ministers: "China doesn’t have any refugee as such”, but those crossing the border into Nepal are doing it illegally.
The ministers politely assured the Tibetan leader that the Nepali soil would never be used against its neighbours, i.e. China.
Gyalsten, with his one-point agenda, also called on President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dipak Chandra Amatya.
Gyaltsen also discussed "possible Tibetan assistance to 15 northern districts of Nepal."  A Foreign Ministry official said there are indications that from next year, the Tibetan government will expand the cooperation in this field.
The present cooperation is mainly centered around security and the training of the Nepali border guards to catch the Tibetans who would try to escape Tibet.
It remains that the opening of Kyierong landport on a large scale makes Lhasa (and Beijing) nervous.
It was the only purpose of Mr Luo's visit to Kathmandu to tell the Nepalis to watch out and not accept more 'refugees'.
In April 2013, I mentioned some earlier important Nepal-Tibet meetings:

Already in July 2010, a meeting termed ‘Nepal-China Border Security and Law Enforcement Talks’ was held in Kathmandu. Both sides had agreed to set up ‘focal points’ in the respective Home Ministries in Kathmandu and Beijing. A senior Nepali Government official told The Kathmandu Post: “The Chinese side assured full support to enhance capacity building, training of Nepali security personnel to be deployed across the northern border, seeking Nepal’s full commitment on information sharing on anti-China activities with effective law enforcement mechanism to contain the activities.

In August 2011, an unnoticed development took place. Zhang Qingli, the then hardliner Party boss in Tibet, accompanied the Politburo Standing Committee member, the now disgraced Zhou Yongkang to Nepal. Zhou was then the supreme security czar of the Middle Kingdom.
A few months later, Chen Zhimin, the Chinese Vice-Minister of Public Security led a delegation to Nepal. According to the official communique issued after the visit: “The two sides exchanged views on cooperation of police affairs and law enforcement and reached consensus on some issues.”
The Nepali Press reported: “The Chinese offered ‘logistic support’ worth $300,000 dollars in the form of laptops, searchlights or metal detectors.”
Chen Zhimin was obviously very pleased with outcome of his stay in Nepal: “My visit is to find out ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between Nepal and China.”
Lhasa is indeed nervous that more 'refugees' could cross the border to Nepal and then proceed to Dharamsala.
By the way, do you know how Google Language translates 'Lobsang', alias 'Luo Can', you will not believe it, 'Lausanne'. The sound is not too different.
I had a Tibetan friend called 'Lobsang', I used to call “Love Song”, that is even better.