Xi previously visited Tibet as China’s leader in 2021, marking the 70th anniversary of Beijing’s annexation of the region. His trip this week represents the first time the country’s leader attends the Tibet Autonomous Region’s anniversary celebrations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tibet on Wednesday, a region where Beijing has been accused of human rights abuses. Xi called for ethnic unity and religious harmony on his trip, in a visit with increased sensitivity as regards the succession of the 90-year-old Dalai Lama.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made a rare visit to Tibet to mark the 60th anniversary of the consolidation of Beijing’s long-contested rule over the Himalayan territory