President Xi Jinping joined around 20,000 local officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in a grand gathering on Thursday at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the Xizang autonomous region.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrived in the regional capital on Wednesday with a central delegation to attend the festivities.

It was the first time in the history of the Party and the country that a leader attended such an event in the capacities of general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the CMC.

The gathering commenced at 10 am, with all attendees standing to sing the national anthem. The bright five-starred national flag was hoisted solemnly at the site.

A congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and the CMC was read out.

Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and head of the central delegation, then presented a plaque bearing Xi's inscription, "Jointly building a community for the Chinese nation, writing a new chapter for a beautiful Xizang," as a congratulatory gift.