LHASA -- The Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xizang autonomous region issued a statement Saturday, expressing strong indignation at and firm opposition to the United States signing a bill on Xizang.

The so-called "Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act" blatantly trampled international law and basic norms governing international relations, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, noted the statement.

The real and sinister intention of the United States is to contain and suppress China and attempt to internationalize the so-called "Tibet issue," said the statement, adding that the act sends a gravely erroneous signal to the separatist forces seeking "Tibet independence."

China is a unified multi-ethnic country and Xizang has been an integral part of China since ancient times. In the new era, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Xizang has made all-round progress and historic achievements in various undertakings.

Today's Xizang is a place featuring political and social stability, economic prosperity, ethnic unity, religious harmony and sound ecology, and is a place where people live and work in peace and contentment, the statement noted.

It said the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile" is an out-and-out separatist political group and a political organization violating China's Constitution and laws. "The 14th Dalai Lama and the so-called 'Tibetan government-in-exile' have no right at all to represent people in Xizang, still less to decide the future of Xizang," it added.

Xizang affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which brook no external interference, it stated.

The regional legislature of Xizang urged the US Congress to observe basic norms governing international relations and honor US government's commitment to acknowledging that Xizang is part of China and not supporting "Tibet independence."

In the face of facts and truth, no matter how the US anti-China politicians confuse right and wrong, and distort facts, they can never undermine social stability in Xizang and can never prevent all ethnic groups in Xizang from taking firm steps toward a better life, said the statement.