Over the past 40 years since the reform and opening-up, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Party Committee and government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and with the assistance of provinces including Hebei Province and Shaanxi Province, state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, Ngari Prefecture has changed its working ideas, and made remarkable achievements and historic changes in promoting the economic and social development.

The comprehensive strength rises dramatically

Over the past 40 years, Ngari Prefecture has achieved great–leap–forward development, and the economic development has shown the trend of "doubling and multiplying". In 2017, the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 4.726 billion yuan which was 262 times as much as 18 million yuan in 1978, with an average annual growth rate of 15.4%; the fiscal revenue reached 370 million yuan, which was 319 times as much as 1.159 million yuan in 1978, with an average annual growth rate of 15.9%; the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents reached 33,000 yuan and 9,843 yuan, which was 62 times and 66.3 times as much as 528 yuan and 146 yuan in 1978 respectively, with an average annual growth rate of 11.2% and 11.4%.

Infrastructure constantly improved

In 2017, the fixed-asset investment was 8.65 billion yuan which was 1,868 times as much as 4.63 million yuan in 1978, with an average annual growth rate of 21.3%. A large number of major energy, transportation, water conservancy and municipal projects such as Ngari Grid Corporation and Ngari Kunsha Airport have been built, which have improved the living and working environment of the cadres and masses, solved many long-standing unsolved problems, and constantly promoted the development of Ngari Prefecture.

Social undertakings developed in an all-round way

The two basic goals of education in Ngari Prefecture have been fully realized. All kindergartens in villages with a population of over 600 have been covered, and the enrollment rate of school-age children has increased from 17% to 100%. At the same time, the universal medical insurance system has been basically established, and the local People's Hospital has successfully become Class II Grade A hospital. Excellent traditional culture has been protected and inherited, and the comprehensive coverage rate of radio and television has reached 96% and 97% respectively. In addition, the scientific and technological undertakings have made significant progress, and a number of major scientific and technological achievements have been made in the key areas such characteristic agriculture and animal husbandry, application demonstration of solar energy as well as plateau medicine. 22,600 poor people in 6,540 households have been lifted out of poverty, and the poverty incidence has dropped from 26.6% in 2015 to 16.4% by the end of 2017.

Reform and opening-up will never stop, and Ngari Prefecture will continue to strive to promote economic and social development. [Zhi Xinghua, Zhu Nan]