President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2019 Forum on the Development of Tibet, which opened in Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, on Friday.

Jointly organized by the State Council Information Office and the regional government of Tibet, the forum has been held six times, with this year's event marking the third time for Lhasa to host it.

The theme of this year's forum is the Belt and Road Initiative and the opening-up and development of Tibet.

Participants will also hold discussions surrounding three subthemes: Tibet in the Silk Road civilizations, the role of Tibet in the Belt and Road Initiative and the opening-up of Tibet, and the inheritance and development of Tibetan culture.