After the foundation of New China on October 1, 1949, the most pressing and important task for Tibet was to solve problems left over from history, and to realize peaceful liberation. In the meantime, it was to create favorable conditions for realizing national regional autonomy.
　　The Common Program adopted at the First Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held in September 1949 stipulated that the Central People's Government would assume full leadership over the Tibetan region. After taking over the reins of the local government, the 14th Dalai Lama cabled the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong, expressing support for the leadership of the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao.
　　He deprived Prince Regent Dagzha, who was pro-imperialism , opposed the peaceful liberation of Tibet by the People's Liberation Army(PLA) and stood for the independence of Tibet", of all his powers in the meantime. The 14th Dalai Lama sent a delegation headed by Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei to Beijing. On May 2, 1951, a Central People's Government delegation headed by Li Weihan formally negotiated with the Tibetan delegation led by Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei on matters concerning the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Through their joint efforts the two sides finally reached the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, generally referred to as the 17-Article Agreement.
　　Article I of the Agreement stipulates, "The Tibetan people shall unite and drive out imperialist aggressive forces from Tibet, the Tibetan people shall return to the big family of the motherland -the People's Republic of China."
　　This article is of epoch-making significance in the history of relations between the Central Government of China and the local government of Tibet. It made clear that Tibet is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, and that the local government of Tibet is the highest-level local organ under the centralized leader ship of the Central People's Government.
　　The US and British imperialists and other anti-China forces in the world had been attempting to seize the territory of Tibet. For this purpose, they had left no stone unturned to cultivate and support Tibetan separatists who were dependent on imperialists. This article was therefore a telling blow to the imperialists and the Tibetan separatists on the upper echelon of social strata.
　　On the other hand, Tibet differed from other minority regions in many aspects, as it had a complete system of political power featuring temporal and religious administration. This political power was actually an organization serving the autocratic feudal serf-owners. It was decadent and backward, but after all, it had been a product of history. In addition, Tibet also had its own armed forces, laws, prisons, police force, currency, postal system, tax system, administrative organs of customs, calendar, and special cultural traditions and religious beliefs. In consideration of these factors, Article 4 of the Agreement stipulates, "The central authorities will not alter the established political system in Tibet. Officials of various ranks will continue to hold offices as usual."
　　However, the old feudal serf system could not stay unchanged in the long run, for it was neither in the fundamental interests of the laboring people in Tibet, nor catered for the historical trend or the socialist system pursued by the People's Republic of China. As it would require a long period to change the old social system. For this reason, Article II of the Agreement stipulates, "In matters related to various reforms in Tibet, there will be no compulsion on the part of the central authorities. The local government of Tibet should carry out reforms of its own accord, and when the people raise demands for reform, they should be settled by means of consultation with the leading personnel of Tibet."
According to the 17-Article Agreement, a military and political committee should be established in Tibet, as a provisional form of the administrative unification in 　　Tibet during the transitional period. With maturity, Tibet would practice unified regional autonomy. Nevertheless, due to change of conditions, Tibet did not establish the military and political committee. In the fall of 1954, the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Erdeni visited Beijing to attend the First Session of the First National People's Congress (NPC). Chairman Mao Zedong met with them specifically to discuss the matter. On October 9, Chairman Mao said to the 14th Dalai Lama, "The military and political committee should not be established, because it has been canceled in the vast inland and the Constitution has also promulgated it. At present, you can unite the leading personnel from Lhasa and Xigaze areas and Qamdo and organize a preparatory committee for the founding of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. You may study the feasibility of this." The next day, when meeting the 10th Panchen Erdeni, Mao suggested again, "With regard to the military and political committee, and some problems raised by btoth sides, these should be solved by means of discussion at meetings by a consultative organization made up of representatives designated by the Dalai lama and the Panchen Erdeni, and from Qamdo. Both the Dalai lama and the Panchen Erdeni agreed to the suggestion, and expressed the hope to establish the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region as soon as possible in the spirit of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China passed not long before. It was an important step undertaken by Tibet toward national regional autonomy.
The information mentioned brings home to the fact that, in the matter of Tibet's practicing national regional autonomy, Chairman Mao and the Central People's Government based themselves on the practical situation in Tibet and showed full respect for the will of the Tibetan people and the political and religious leaders closely associated with the people. Acting in accordance with the instructions issued by Chairman Mao, on November 4, 1954, the Preparatory Group for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was established, representing the interests of all walks of life in Tibet.
　　On March 9, 1955, Premier Zhou Enlal presided over the Seventh Enlarged Session of the State Council, which discussed and passed the Decision on Establishing the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Decision states, "The Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autono moos Region functions as an authorized State organ under the lead ership of the State Council, responsible for establishing the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its primary task is to make preparations for Tibet to practice the national regional autonomy in accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the provisions of the Agreement on the Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and concrete conditions in Tibet."
The decision adopted some plans and suggestion put forward by the Preparatory Group of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. and gave definite descriptions of the nature, tasks , number of members, proportion of representatives, and its administrative institutions. After negotiating and consulting with the various sides involved, the Preparatory Committee was to be made up of 51 persons, with IS from the local government of Tibet, 10 from the Panchen Kampus Assembly. 10 from the People's Liberation Committee of Qamdo Prefecture, fivee from the Tibet Work Committee, and the remaining II from other sources, such as major monasteries, the main religious sects, social elite, and social organizations. The State Council of China also decided that the 14th Dalai Lama should assume the post of Committee Chairman, while the Panchen Erdeni be the First Vice-Chairman and Zhang Guohua Second Vice-Chairman.
When the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established, the Central People's Government sent a delegation, headed by Chen Yi, Vice-Premier of the State Council, to celebrate the event. On April 17, 1956, the Central Delegation arrived in Lhasa. Both the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Erdeni met the delegation at the Welcoming Pavilion five km from the city, a move which had never been taken since the 5th Dalai Lama set up the Gandain Phodrang Regime. On April 18, the 14th Dalai Lama presided over a formal but warm welcoming meeting attended by people from various ethnic groups in Lhasa.
On the eve of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Chairman Mao Zedong, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Liu Shaoqi, Premier Zhou Enlai and Central Government departments concerned sent cables to Tibet, expressing warm congratulations Chairman Mao's cable read in part, ''The Dalai Lama, the Panchen Erdeni, and members of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region: I happily congratulate on the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and hope most earnestly that people from all walks of life in Tibet will, under your leadership, be more closely united and make more progress, and achieve greater success in political, economic and cultural development in Tibet." Chairman LiuShaoqi's cable read in part: "The establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region is a happy event for both the Tibetan people and people of other nationalities in China. I believe that the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region will help close the ranks of the Tibetans and strengthen their relations with other ethnic groups in Tibet. Inspired by him, people from all walks of life in Tibet can achieve more in building up a rich, prosperous and powerful Tibet." Premier Zhou IFnlai's cable read in part: "The establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region is another great victory for the policies of the Communist Party of China and the Central People's Government regarding ethnic groups. It is also the result of the effort made by Tibetan lamas and laymen unitedly under the leadership of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni. I am fully confident that after its establishment, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region will achieve more in realizing regional autonomy in Tibet, uniting with other ethnic groups, training cadres and developing the economy and culture of Tibet."
　　On April 22, 1956, a grand ceremony was held in the newly built Lhasa Hall to mark the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The 14th Dalai Lama delivered an opening speech. He proclaimed solemnly. "First, please allow me, on behalf of all people in Tibet, both ecclesiastical and secular, to announce that the meeting for the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region is now declared open. The 55 members of the Committee and 269 representatives with us now represent all areas, all religious sects. and all walks of life in Tibet. It is the first time in Tibetan history that we gather happily and discuss the important issues concerning Tibet."
　　The 14th Dalai Lana continued, '"This meeting is of profound significance. It is held under the correct leadership of the CPC, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong, and on the basis of the increasing enforcement of the intimate relations between the Han and Tibetans, and also of the relations among Tibetans. The establishment of the Preparatory Committee shows the work in Tibet has entered a new phase of development. In the future, Tibet will become more united and make more progress, and realize a unified autonomous region, and gradually carry out democratic and social reforms."
The 14th Dalai Lama pointed out, "Our task is to unite all Tibetans, ecclesiastical and secular, and, under the leadership of the CPC and the Central People's Government, work hard to gradually achieve political, economic and cultural development, strengthen the defense of the motherland, and construct a politically and religiously flourishing, prosperous and happy new Tibet."
　　The 14th Dalai Lama emphasized, "Under the direct leader-ship of the Central Delegation headed by Vice-Premier Chen Yi, I believe that the meeting will come up with satisfactory results. We sincerely thank the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao for the cordial concern and care for the Tibetan people. We heartily support the policies of the CPC and the Central People's Government for practicing national regional autonomy, equality and unity among ethnic groups, and protecting religious freedom."
　　Marshal Chen Yi. Head of the Central Delegation and Vice-Premier of the State Council, read out a State Council Decree at the opening ceremony, and, on behalf of the State Council, presented a seal of authority to the 14th Dala Lama. After 10 intense, hut high spirited days, the meeting came to a victorious close on May 2. The 10th Panchen Erdeni, First Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, presided over the closing ceremony and delivered a closing speech.

The establishment of the Preparatory Committee gave a shot to the arm of the Tibetans. The event was a new milestone in their developing course.