-- On May 24, the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet (known as the 17-Article Agreement) is signed. The agreement enables Tibet to repel the imperialist forces and realize peaceful liberation, and provides basic conditions for Tibet to join other parts of the country in the drive for common progress and development.
-- China stipulates policies to encourage farmers to set up agricultural cooperatives, which initially spur enthusiasm among farmers. The cooperatives become the prelude to communes.