Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (C) talks with students as he visits Tibet University in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 18, 2011.[Photo/Xinhua]

Vice President Xi Jinping on Monday visited Tibet University, the top higher learning institute in southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region, examining science research labs and interacting with students, and urging them to study hard and help boost ethnic unity.

Xi, heading a 59-member central government delegation to attend celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, was greeted by rows of dancing Tibetan students in ethnic attire when he arrived at the spacious new campus of Tibet University in the regional capital Lhasa.

"The atmosphere is like we are celebrating the New Year," said a Tibetan arts major freshman Kelsang Dawa, who participated in the welcoming ceremony.

Barley wine and hada, a typical Tibetan ceremonial white scarf to extend greetings, were presented to Xi and other members of the delegation.

Wearing the hada, the vice president visited the university's library where ancient religious literature is well preserved. He walked into the school's Tibetan language information technology lab and listened carefully to the briefing of research progress on digitalization of the Tibetan language.

Xi tried an artificial intelligence pen that can read the Chinese translation when it scans Tibetan scripts and vice versa. He also inspected the university's cosmic rays lab to encourage researchers to make progress in the field.

Walking into a computer room, Xi was surrounded by students who had been waiting for his visit, and he talked with them about studying, university life, and plans after graduation.

Xi applauded the progress the Tibet University has made in teaching and research over the years, saying the university has educated a number of people who have made key contributions to Tibet's development.

The vice president told students, many of whom are Tibetans, that Tibet has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times and Tibetans, along with other ethnic minorities, are part of the big family of China.

He urged students to study hard and make their own contributions to the course of ethnic unity and safeguarding national unification.

"Born in the 1980s and 1990s, you are at the prime time of study. I hope you can make best of your time to accumulate knowledge, foster a strong sense of morality, keep fit, and develop a good taste of arts and grow into builders of our nation," Xi said.

Xi was pleased to learn that many students are willing to work in grassroots organizations after graduation and urged them to work in rural areas where college-educated talents are most urgently needed.

Losang Chosphel, president of the university, said faculty members and students will heed Xi's words and strive to improve the quality of teaching and research of the university.