为了应对国际形势的复杂变化和西藏地方的严峻局势，满足西藏人民要求早日解放的愿望，1949年12月，毛泽东主席在前往苏联访问、途经满洲里时，写信给中共中央，作出了“进军西藏宜早不宜迟”的战略决策。

　　——昌都战役的胜利，为西藏和平解放创造条件

　　根据进藏交通状况和西藏的民族、宗教特点，毛泽东主席提出“政治解决优先”和解放西藏“不应操之过急”的基本方针，中央人民政府随后组织开展了大量的政治争取工作，先后多次派代表团或代表赴西藏进行劝和，争取能像解放北平、绥远、新疆等地一样实现西藏和平解放。1950年2月，西北局派出藏族干部张竞成携带青海省人民政府副主席廖汉生致十四世达赖和摄政达扎·阿旺松饶的书信等赴藏联络劝和。3月，在中共中央批准和西南局组织下，与西藏政教界有着良好关系的汉族高僧志清法师由成都启程赴藏。7月，以塔尔寺当才活佛为团长的青海寺院赴藏劝和团从西宁出发。青海省人民政府副主席、著名藏族学者喜饶嘉措向十四世达赖和藏族同胞发表广播讲话，呼吁西藏地方政府“迅速派遣全权代表赴京进行和平协商”。同月，西康省甘孜白利寺五世格达活佛一行赴藏。

　　然而，这一系列劝和促谈活动，受到帝国主义侵略势力和西藏亲帝分裂分子的重重阻挠。与此同时，西藏上层分裂分子与历史发展潮流背道而驰，不顾地方经济凋敝而扩大军备、调遣藏军，妄图以武力抵抗人民解放军，还勾结帝国主义势力，建立电台、散布谣言，人为制造民族隔阂，派出所谓“亲善使团”寻求一些国家对“西藏独立”的支持。

　　在这种情况下，中共中央和毛泽东主席意识到解放西藏已经迫在眉睫。西南局和西北局在中央人民政府的统一部署下，迅速做好进军西藏的准备。进藏部队按照“政治重于军事，补给重于战斗”原则，根据中央“多路向心进兵”部署，以十八军为主力的人民解放军分四路向西藏进军，并于1950年10月取得昌都战役的胜利。昌都解放后，召开了昌都地区第一次人民代表会议，选举产生了昌都地区人民解放委员会，成立了昌都地区僧俗人民争取和平解放西藏工作委员会。昌都战役的胜利为促进西藏和平解放创造了条件。中央人民政府和毛泽东主席始终没有放弃和平解放西藏的努力，在昌都战役进行中仍催促西藏地方政府尽快派人来京。

　　——签订《十七条协议》，西藏实现和平解放

　　昌都战役的胜利使西藏地方政府的爱国进步力量进一步增强，西藏地方政局朝着有利于和平解放的趋势发展。1951年2月，西藏地方政府“官员会议”决定正式派出代表到北京同中央人民政府和谈。十四世达赖在致中央人民政府的信中也表达了和平谈判的愿望。4月29日，中央人民政府和西藏地方政府关于和平解放西藏的谈判正式开始。双方经过认真协商和充分讨论，最终就西藏和平解放一系列问题达成协议，于5月23日在北京签订了《中央人民政府和西藏地方政府关于和平解放西藏办法的协议》（简称《十七条协议》），宣告西藏和平解放。

　　《十七条协议》明确：“西藏人民团结起来，驱逐帝国主义侵略势力出西藏，西藏人民回到中华人民共和国祖国大家庭中来”“人民解放军进入西藏，巩固国防”“中央人民政府统一处理西藏地区的一切涉外事宜”“西藏地方政府积极协助人民解放军进入西藏，巩固国防”“在中央人民政府统一领导之下，西藏人民有实行民族区域自治的权利”“尊重西藏人民的宗教信仰和风俗习惯”。《十七条协议》明确，对于达赖喇嘛和班禅额尔德尼的固有地位及职权，中央亦不予变更；原西藏地方政府中的各级官员，可以照常供职。《十七条协议》的签订，标志着中国大陆实现了完全解放，新中国在西藏的主权地位得到完整体现，团结了各方力量，维护了西藏社会大局稳定，保障了中国共产党民族、宗教、经济、文化政策在西藏的实行，为西藏社会发展改革打下了坚实的政治基础。

　　《十七条协议》的签订，得到全国各族各界的拥护。1951年5月28日，《人民日报》用汉藏两种文字对外公布协议全文，同时发表题为《拥护关于和平解放西藏办法的协议》的社论，指出这是西藏人民从黑暗和痛苦走向光明和幸福的第一步。北京、西安、重庆、成都，以及新疆、内蒙古等地各族群众集会游行，热烈庆祝《十七条协议》的签订。

　　同日，十世班禅及班禅堪布会议厅全体人员发表声明拥护协议，表示“我们今后坚决拥护毛主席的领导，拥护中央人民政府和中国共产党的领导”。10月24日，十四世达赖以西藏地方政府和他个人名义，向中央人民政府致电拥护协议，表示“中央人民政府毛主席：今年西藏地方政府特派全权代表噶伦阿沛等五人于1951年4月底抵达北京，与中央人民政府指定的全权代表进行和谈。双方代表在友好基础上已于1951年5月23日签订了关于和平解放西藏办法的协议。西藏地方政府及藏族僧俗人民一致拥护，并在毛主席及中央人民政府领导下积极协助人民解放军进藏部队巩固国防，驱逐帝国主义势力出西藏，保护祖国领土主权的统一”。

　　——落实《十七条协议》，维护国家主权和促进社会发展

　　按照《十七条协议》，从1951年9月到1952年6月，人民解放军各路进藏部队先后到达拉萨，进驻（抵）太昭、江孜、日喀则、山南隆子宗、亚东、察隅、改则等地，完成进军西藏任务，结束了西藏4000多公里边境线上长期有边无防的历史。

　　1952年9月6日，中央人民政府驻西藏代表外事帮办办公室成立，在中央人民政府外交部领导下，具体处理西藏地方一切涉外事宜。1954年4月29日，中印双方在京签订《关于中国西藏地方和印度之间的通商和交通协定》，同时互换照会，取消印度继承的英国侵略西藏遗留下来的特权。1956年9月20日，中国和尼泊尔签订《中华人民共和国和尼泊尔王国保持友好关系以及关于中国西藏地方和尼泊尔之间的通商和交通的协定》，取消了尼泊尔在西藏的特权。至此，完全实现了由中央政府统一处理西藏地区的一切涉外事宜。

　　中央人民政府作出“进军西藏，不吃地方”及“精打细算，生产自给”等指示，提出“保障军需，兼顾民用”“统一采购，紧缩开支”等一系列财经政策。人民解放军进驻拉萨后，先后建立“七一农场”“八一农场”开垦生产，依靠自身站稳脚跟。同时从羊毛出口贸易着手，解决军需民用问题。

　　在中央人民政府推动下，1952年4月，十世班禅自青海返回西藏，与十四世达赖友好会晤。1953年，十四世达赖和十世班禅当选为中国佛教协会名誉会长，功德林活佛被选为副会长。1954年9月，十四世达赖、十世班禅联袂赴京参加新中国第一届全国人民代表大会第一次会议，十四世达赖当选全国人大常委会副委员长。12月25日，十世班禅在全国政协二届一次会议上，被选为全国政协副主席。1952年至1957年，中央政府组织了13批1000多人次到其他省市参观、访问，成员包括西藏各地僧俗官员、僧人、青年和妇女，增进了西藏与其他省市的联系和各民族团结。

　　《十七条协议》签订后，在中央人民政府领导下，西藏各项事业发展明显加快。现代教育体系逐步建立。1951年3月，创办西藏第一所新型学校——昌都小学。1952年8月，创办拉萨小学，随后，日喀则、山南等地先后创办28所公办小学。1956年9月，西藏历史上第一所现代正规初级中学——拉萨中学正式成立。1958年9月，西藏公学在陕西咸阳正式开学，当年共招收学生3460人，其中绝大部分是农奴子女。交通运输条件明显改善。1954年，川藏、青藏公路同时建成通车到达拉萨。1956年，西藏第一座机场——当雄机场全部竣工，北京至拉萨正式通航。现代农牧工商业逐渐起步。大力发展种植业，改进农业灌溉系统。先后建成不同规模的小型工厂，各主要城镇办起了医院、银行、商店、邮局等服务机构。文化事业明显进步。1953年10月1日，拉萨有线广播站正式成立，有线广播开播，并用藏语直播。1956年4月22日，《西藏日报》藏、汉两种文版创刊。群众文化活动丰富多彩，多地组建各种文工团和联谊会。1954年，新组建的西藏歌舞团到北京、上海、广州等地演出，受到当地广大干部群众的热烈欢迎。

【参考译文】
 

To address the complex and changing international landscape and the difficult situation in Tibet, and to satisfy the Tibetan people's wish for liberation as soon as possible, Mao Zedong wrote a letter to the CPC Central Committee while in Manzhouli on his way to the Soviet Union for a visit in December 1949. In the letter, Mao made the strategic decision that “it is better for the PLA to enter Tibet sooner rather than later.”

– The victory in the Qamdo Battle created the conditions for the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

Considering the difficulties of transport and the ethnic and religious characteristics of Tibet, Mao Zedong proposed two basic principles – to prioritize a political settlement, and to avoid undue haste in liberating Tibet. The Central People's Government organized and carried out a lot of work in political persuasion, sending delegates or delegations to Tibet for mediation on several occasions in order to achieve peaceful liberation, a strategy with proven success for Beiping (Beijing), Suiyuan and Xinjiang. In February 1950, the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee sent a Tibetan official named Zhang Jingcheng to Tibet with a letter from Liao Hansheng, then vice chairman of the Qinghai Provincial People's Government, directed to the 14th Dalai Lama and Regent Taktra Ngawang Sungrab. In March, an eminent Han monk, Master Zhiqing, who had good contacts in the political and religious circles of Tibet, set out for Tibet from Chengdu, with the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the support of the Southwest Bureau. In July, a delegation composed of members from Qinghai temples and monasteries, led by Taktser Rinpoche of Kumbum Monastery, set out from Xining. Sherab Gyatso, vice chairman of the Qinghai Provincial People's Government and a leading Tibetan scholar, delivered a radio talk, calling on the local government of Tibet to “quickly dispatch plenipotentiary representatives to Beijing for peace talks”. Also in this month, a delegation including the 5th Gedar Tulku of Beri Monastery in Garze, Xikang, went to Tibet.

However, these mediation activities suffered obstruction from Western imperialists and pro-imperialist separatists in Tibet. In the meantime, in spite of local economic decline, the separatists from the upper classes of Tibet expanded the Tibetan army and dispatched troops in an attempt to halt the PLA's advance. They also colluded with their imperialist supporters to set up radio stations, spread rumors to deepen the rifts among the Han and local people, and dispatched a “goodwill mission” to seek support from other countries.

In the circumstances, Mao Zedong and the CPC Central Committee realized that the liberation of Tibet was a matter of extreme urgency. Under the unified deployment of the Central People's Government, the southwest and northwest bureaux of the CPC Central Committee issued a prompt order for troops to stand by.

The PLA troops followed the principles that military operations should only be carried out when political persuasion failed and the troops had sufficient supplies to fight a battle. Guided by the central authorities' strategy of outflanking the enemy from various directions, the PLA, with the 18th army as the major force, advanced into Tibet from four directions and won the Battle of Qamdo in October, 1950.

After the victory, the First People's Congress of Qamdo was held. The Qamdo People's Liberation Committee was elected and a working committee for the peaceful liberation of Tibet was founded, composed of both ecclesiastical and secular representatives. The battle created the conditions for the peaceful liberation of Tibet. The Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong had never given up their efforts to this end. Even during the battle, Mao Zedong urged that a local Tibetan delegation should come to Beijing as soon as possible.

– Signing the 17-Article Agreement marked the liberation of Tibet.

The victory at Qamdo gave the upper hand to the patriotic and progressive forces within the local government of Tibet, and the political situation moved in the direction of peaceful liberation. In February 1951, an “officials' meeting” of the local government of Tibet decided to send a formal delegation to Beijing to conduct peace negotiations with the Central People's Government. The 14th Dalai Lama expressed his wish for peace talks in a letter to the Central People's Government. On April 29, the Central People's Government and the local government of Tibet began official negotiations for the peaceful liberation. After serious consultations and thorough discussions, they signed the 17-Article Agreement in Beijing on May 23.

The 17-Article Agreement stipulates:

• The people of Tibet shall unite and drive out aggressive imperialist forces; they will return to the family of the People's Republic of China.

• The PLA troops shall enter Tibet to consolidate national defense.

• All foreign-related affairs of Tibet shall be dealt with by the Central People's Government on a centralized basis.

• The local government of Tibet shall actively assist the PLA to enter Tibet and consolidate the national defense.

• The Tibetan people shall have the right of regional ethnic autonomy under the unified leadership of the Central People's Government.

• The religious beliefs and customs of the Tibetan people shall be respected.

The agreement also clarified that the central authorities would not alter the established status, functions and powers of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni, and that former officials of all ranks in the local government of Tibet could continue to hold office. The signing of the 17-Article Agreement symbolized the final liberation of all the Chinese mainland, embodied the full sovereignty of the People's Republic in Tibet, united all forces to safeguard overall social stability, ensured the enforcement of the CPC's ethnic, religious, economic and cultural policies, and laid a solid political foundation for social development and reform in Tibet.

The 17-Article Agreement gained the support of all ethnic groups and people from all walks of life across the country. On May 28, 1951, the People's Daily published in full the agreement in both Chinese and Tibetan accompanied by an editorial entitled “Supporting the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet”. The article made the point that this was the first step for the Tibetan people out of a dark and miserable past and toward a bright and happy future. Assemblies and processions were held in Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia to celebrate the signing of the agreement.

On the same day, the 10th Panchen Lama and the Panchen Kampus Assembly made a statement in support of the agreement, declaring, “We will be the staunch supporters of Chairman Mao's leadership, and of the leadership of the Central People's Government and the CPC.” On October 24, the 14th Dalai Lama, on behalf of the local government of Tibet and himself, sent a telegram to the Central People's Government to express his support for the agreement, which read, “Chairman Mao of the Central People's Government: This year the local government of Tibet sent five delegates with full authority, headed by Kalon Ngapoi, to Beijing in late April 1951 to conduct peace talks with delegates with full authority appointed by the Central People's Government. On the basis of friendship, the delegates of the two sides signed on May 23, 1951 the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. The local government of Tibet as well as the ecclesiastical and secular people unanimously support this agreement, and, under the leadership of Chairman Mao and the Central People's Government, will actively assist the PLA troops entering Tibet to consolidate national defense, ousting imperialist influences from Tibet and safeguarding the unification of the territory and the sovereignty of the motherland.”

– Implementing the 17-Article Agreement to safeguard national sovereignty and promote social development

In line with the 17-Article Agreement and between September 1951 and June 1952, the PLA troops in Tibet reached Lhasa and were dispatched to Gyamda, Gyangze, Xigaze, Lhunze Dzong, Yadong, Zayu and Gerze. For the first time in history Tibet's 4,000-km border was fully and properly defended.

On September 6, 1952, the foreign affairs office of the Central People's Government representative stationed in Tibet was set up, taking responsibility for all the foreign-related affairs of Tibet under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Central People's Government. On April 29, 1954, in Beijing, China and India signed the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse Between the Tibet Region of China and India and exchanged diplomatic notes, abolishing the privileges India had inherited from the British invaders. On September 20, 1956, China and Nepal signed the Agreement on Maintaining Friendly Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Nepal and on Trade and Intercourse Between the Tibet Region of China and Nepal, which cancelled Nepal's privileges in Tibet. Henceforth, all the foreign-related affairs of Tibet would be dealt with by the Central People's Government on a centralized basis.

The Central People's Government issued a series of specific instructions and policies. Troops would be stationed in Tibet but would not depend on the local people for their grain supplies. They would operate according to a strict budget and produce what they needed. Food supplies would be guaranteed for the army itself while taking into consideration civilian needs. There would be unified procurement and economy would be practiced.

Soon after the PLA troops entered Lhasa, they set up the Qiyi and Bayi Farms, reclaiming land to provide for themselves. They also used the revenues from export of wool to support the PLA and the local people.

Encouraged by the Central People's Government, the 10th Panchen Lama returned to Lhasa from Qinghai Province to have an amicable meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama in April 1952. In 1953, the Dalai and Panchen lamas were elected as honorary presidents of the Buddhist Association of China, with Living Buddha Kundeling as vice president. In September 1954, the Dalai and Panchen lamas went together to Beijing to attend the First Session of the First National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China, with the former elected vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. On December 25, the 10th Panchen Lama was elected vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at its First Plenary Session of the Second National Committee. From 1952 to 1957, a total of over 1,000 people in 13 groups, including ecclesiastical and secular officials, monks, and ordinary people including women and youngsters, made organized trips to other parts of the country, which strengthened connections between Tibet and the rest of the country and promoted national unity.

After the signing of the 17-Article Agreement, rapid progress was made in all social undertakings of Tibet under the leadership of the Central People's Government.

A modern education system was gradually put in place. In March 1951, Qamdo Primary School was set up – the first modern school in Tibet. In August 1952, Lhasa Primary School was founded. Soon afterwards, 28 public primary schools were set up in locations such as Xigaze and Shannan. In September 1956, Lhasa Middle School was established – the first modern and standard middle school in the history of Tibet. In September 1958, Xizang Minzu University officially opened in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, enrolling a total of 3,460 students, most of whom were the children of former serfs.

There were significant improvements in transport infrastructure. In 1954, the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, both terminating at Lhasa, were completed and opened to traffic. In 1956, Damxung Airport – Tibet's first airport – was completed, linking Beijing and Lhasa through official air services.

Modern agriculture, animal husbandry, industry and commerce began to emerge. Great efforts were made to improve crop farming and agricultural irrigation. Small factories of various sizes were built. Hospitals, banks, stores and post offices were set up in major cities and towns.

Visible progress was made in cultural undertakings. On October 1, 1953, a radio station was set up in Lhasa, broadcasting live programs in Tibetan. On April 22, 1956, the Tibet Daily started publication in both Tibetan and Chinese. A variety of rich and varied recreational activities were set up, including art troupes and social clubs. In 1954, newly-established performing groups from Tibet went on a performance tour in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. They were universally and warmly welcomed by local audiences.