Tremendous efforts are needed to boost development in Tibet and the region's long-term stability, said Chen Quanguo, the new secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region, at a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

The CPC Central Committee announced Thursday that Zhang Qingli, the former Party Chief of Tibet, has been replaced by Chen.

At the meeting, Zhang Jinan, vice minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that Chen, who started at the grassroots level, gained experience through his work in various posts.

"He is familiar with the work of the Party as well as the economy, and is good at handling the overall situation," he said.

"The decision by the central authorities was out of consideration for the actual work needs, a spirit of cadre exchange, and the real leadership situation in Tibet," he said.

Chen noted that Tibet holds political significance and is an important strategic position.

"The Party and the central government have high requirements for the development of Tibet, and local cadres of all ethnic groups have great expectations," he said.

Chen Quanguo was born in 1955 in central China's Henan Province and later obtained a masters degree in economics.

A retired soldier, he started as a worker in an automobile factory in Zhumadian City of Henan.

After serving as a government leader at both the county and city levels, he was promoted to vice governor of Henan Province in 1998. In 2003, he became the province's vice Party chief.

He was relocated to neighboring Hebei Province in 2009, where he served as vice Party chief of the Province, and governor from 2010.

In regards to Chen's predecessor, Zhang Qingli, Zhang Jinan said that the government "fully recognized" his work in Tibet.

He said that Zhang Qingli will move into another position, but did not elaborate.