Han-Tibetan couple embodies ethnic unity through public service

A Han-Tibetan couple in the Xizang autonomous region is turning their shared commitment to public service into a quiet yet powerful example of ethnic unity and dedication on the plateau.

Jia Weiwei, deputy dean and assistant researcher at the Arts College of Xizang University, and her husband Tsewang Ngodrub, deputy Party secretary and head of Dekyiling township in Rinpung county, Shigatse, have built a family rooted in mutual respect, responsibility, and service to local communities.

Their story began in 2009 during an academic trip to Shalu Monastery. Jia, a graduate student from Shandong province researching Tibetan murals, met Tsewang Ngodrub, a Tibetan villager from nearby Shalu village who served as a translator for the research team. Shared ideals and a deep respect for each other gradually brought them together, bridging ethnic and geographic differences.

The couple often lives apart because of work. Jia teaches students from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Lhasa, encouraging understanding and inclusiveness through education.

"Education is also a form of connection," she said. "It helps people see and understand one another."

Meanwhile, Tsewang Ngodrub works on the front lines of grassroots governance in Dekyiling township. His efforts include improving rural infrastructure, promoting farming cooperatives, and introducing community governance initiatives aimed at addressing daily concerns.

"Ethnic unity is not abstract," he said. "It exists in everyday interactions, mutual understanding, and the willingness to lend a hand when others are in need."

On weekends, Jia often travels nearly 180 kilometers with their child to reunite with her husband. Looking down the highway back to Lhasa, she said: "I will continue traveling this road, because at the other end are both my family and the life we are building together."