March 12

On March 12, 1986, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued an announcement about the approval of establishing China Tibetology Research Center proposed by the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee. The announcement stated that the hometown of Tibetology was in China and it would be of political importance to establish China Tibetology Research Center and strengthen the study work about Tibetology.

China Tibetology Research Center was officially established on May 20, 1986 in Beijing.

On March 12, 1979, Deng Xiaoping, leader of People’s Republic of China, met Gyalo Thondup, the second elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama. Deng expressed the importance of current situation and people’s unity in Tibet to the realization of the Four Modernizations (modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense and science and technology) and the attitude and policies that the CPC Central Committee would take to the coming back of the 14th Dalai Lama and other Tibetan compatriots fleeing to foreign countries.

Deng pointed out that the riots happened in 1959 in Tibet were wrong and Tibet is an inalienable part of China. The return of the 14th Dalai Lama and other Tibetan compatriots fleeing overseas would not be the dialogue between two countries but an interior issue of China, which would be the foundation of talks.