The Tibetan delegation of lawmakers arrived in Beijing Wednesday morning on a passenger train. This is the first delegation to arrive for the upcoming annual session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament.

Tibetan members on the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) also arrived on the same train for the annual session of CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body.

It was the first time that Tibetan lawmakers and advisors came to Beijing via the Lhasa-Beijing train.

The 1,956-km Qinghai-Tibet railway links Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. The world's highest and longest railway began passenger transport on July 1, 2006, enabling travels by rail between Tibet and other parts of China for the first time.

The Tenth National Committee of the CPPCC convenes its fifth annual plenary session on March 3.

The 10th National People's Congress opens its fifth plenary session on March 5.

A Tibetan member on China's top advisory body walks out of the train at Beijing West Railway Station on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.

A Tibetan member on China's top advisory body is interviewed by reporters on the platform of Beijing West Railway Station on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2007)