Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Tibetan residents living near the Indian border to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region. In a recent message, Xi encouraged the villagers to safeguard the border areas and promote ethnic unity.

Xi Jinping conveyed his message in response to a letter from residents of Nyingchi, a prefecture-level area close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet, a claim that India firmly rejects.

In his reply, Xi expressed his happiness at the positive changes and increased incomes of the villagers in recent years. He voiced his hope that under the guidance of the Communist Party, the residents of Nyingchi will continue to protect the natural beauty of the region, develop the village's tourism sector, and contribute to building a prosperous and stable border area. He also urged the people in the Tibet Autonomous Region to uphold ethnic solidarity and strive for a better life.

Xi's message underscores the importance China places on the development and security of its border regions, particularly those bordering India. In recent years, China has been actively constructing villages in these areas to bolster border security and promote economic development.

This is not the first time Xi Jinping has emphasized the role of Tibetans in safeguarding Chinese territory. In 2017, he responded to a letter from a Tibetan family of herders, urging them to set down roots in the border area and protect "Chinese territory". He praised the family's decades-long efforts to safeguard the territory, emphasizing that "without peace in the territory, there will be no peaceful lives for the millions of families".

Xi's emphasis on border security comes against the backdrop of ongoing border disputes and tensions between China and India. The two countries share a long and contested border, and there have been several military standoffs in recent years.