The year 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of Xizang Autonomous Region. Over the past six decades, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Xizang has undergone historic transformations.

The State Council Information Office held a press conference on August 5, during which Wang Junzheng, secretary of Communist Party of China Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, and Gama Cedain, deputy secretary of Communist Party of China Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of Xizang Autonomous Region, introduced the economic and social development achievements of Xizang Autonomous Region over the past 60 years since its establishment.

Xizang's high-quality economic development is vibrant now and holds great potential for the future

Wang introduced that in 2024, the region's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 276.5 billion yuan, 155 times that of 1965, reaching an average annual growth rate of 8.9 percent.

Since 2021, Xizang has witnessed a continuous expansion in the scale of economic development, along with marked improvements in quality and efficiency. Modern industries such as clean energy, cultural tourism, and plateau light industry have flourished, laying the foundation for a modern industrial system. Xizang's capacity for self-sufficiency and self-development has been continuously enhanced, with key economic indicators consistently ranking among the highest growth rates in the country for several consecutive years.

Over 400 billion yuan in planned investments has been implemented, with major projects such as the Sichuan-Xizang Railway accelerating their progress and the construction of the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River officially commencing. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, major economic projects have played an increasingly pivotal role in supporting Xizang's economic development, ensuring that Xizang's high-quality economic growth remains vibrant now and holds great potential for the future.

"When comparing Xizang's economic and social development both vertically and horizontally, significant progress and rapid growth rates are evident. This year, the region's GDP is expected to surpass 300 billion yuan, achieving its third milestone of a thousand-billion-yuan GDP," Wang said.

People of all ethnic groups share in the fruits of reform and development

In 2024, the per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 55,444 yuan, while that of rural residents reached 21,578 yuan. Wang stated that today in Xizang, people of all ethnic groups have access to adequate housing, earn a living through work, enjoy social security in old age, receive education, and have access to medical care, thereby sharing in the fruits of reform and development. The people of all ethnic groups now have a stronger sense of gain, more sustainable happiness, and greater security.

Gama Cedain introduced that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the central and regional governments have allocated projects across 28 categories in the field of social undertakings, with a total planned investment of 24.65 billion yuan. As of now, 23.678 billion yuan has been invested, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the practical needs and aspirations of the people.

A series of livelihood projects, including universal coverage of fiber-optic broadband and 4G networks, have been implemented, enabling people of all ethnic groups in Xizang to bid farewell to the historical challenges of "difficulties in accessing clean water, electricity, transportation, and communication" and embrace a comfortable and convenient modern life.

Safeguarding Xizang's flora, fauna, mountains, and rivers

Xizang serves as a crucial ecological security barrier for China. Protecting Xizang's ecological environment is a long-term benefit that extends globally.

Wang introduced that in recent years, Xizang has implemented afforestation projects in its northern and southern mountains, increasing the region's forest coverage rate to 12.31%. More than 440,000 ecological posts have been established, enabling the people to earn a living and achieve prosperity through ecological conservation efforts.

Simultaneously, Xizang has been promoting low-carbon development and accelerating the construction of clean energy bases. In 2024, clean energy accounted for over 99% of Xizang's electricity generation, essentially achieving a fully clean power supply and making it the region with the highest proportion of clean energy generation in the country.

Today, Xizang boasts an air quality excellence rate of over 99.7%, with 100% of its major rivers and lakes meeting or exceeding Class III water quality standards, establishing it as one of the regions with the best ecological environment in the world.

Continued social stability and progress

"Over the past 60 years, Party organizations at all levels in Xizang have grown from small to large and from weak to strong, with continuous improvements in the scientific and institutionalized levels of Party building and enhanced governance capabilities," Wang introduced. By 2024, the number of Party members in the region has increased from 14,800 at the time of the region's founding to 470,400. Since 2011, 14 batches of over 297,000 cadres have been dispatched to reside in villages, continuously addressing practical issues and difficulties for the people and serving as a bridge between the Party and the people.

By the end of 2024, the People's Congress of the Xizang Autonomous Region and its standing committee had enacted and implemented 171 local regulations and resolutions and decisions with the nature of regulations. Xizang has established nine ethnic townships in three cities, including Shannan... Over the past 60 years, the system of regional ethnic autonomy has guided the remarkable development of Xizang's political, economic, cultural, and other undertakings.

Reporter: Fan Sixiang, Tang Jianhui

Translator: Zhi Xinghua

Review: Phurbu Tsering, Dong Xiuli