Photo: Train K6834 operating on the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway.

"In 2025, the Gross Regional Product of Xizang surpassed 300 billion yuan." This figure, released by the Xizang Autonomous Region Statistics Bureau of China on January 21, signifies a historic leap for Xizang's economy beyond the 300-billion-yuan threshold. At this critical juncture marking the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the commencement of the 15th, high-quality economic development on the plateau has crossed a major milestone, erecting a new landmark.

Data shows that it took 50 years from the establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region until 2015 for its total economic output to reach the first 100-billion-yuan mark. Reaching 200 billion yuan by 2021 took six years. Now, climbing another 100-billion-yuan step required only four years. With larger strides and shorter timeframes, this progression indicates that Xizang's development has entered its best historical period, shifting into the fast lane and accelerating its pace.

It is not just faster, but also better. In recent years, Xizang has seized the strategic opportunity period for high-quality development. By adapting measures to local conditions, implementing targeted policies, adjusting the economic structure, transforming the growth model, expanding scale, and enhancing efficiency. With a focused effort on managing its own affairs, the region has fostered new strengths and accumulated new momentum, resulting in higher quality and stronger driving forces for its economydevelopment.

"Amidst a complex and challenging domestic and international environment, this 'report card' achieved by Xizang carries substantial weight," analyzed Tian Guanghua, Director of the Xizang Autonomous Region Statistics Bureau. He noted that Xizang's growth rates for major economic indicators have led the nation for many consecutive years. This latest "critical leap" signifies that Xizang's economy has entered a new stage characterized by the simultaneous enhancement of economic scale, quality, and benefits. The region is gradually narrowing the gap with more developed provinces and municipalities, moving closer to the goal of socialist modernization alongside the rest of the country.

"Viewed horizontally, a 300-billion-yuan economic aggregate may not seem remarkable. But viewed vertically, with theoverlapping release of policy advantages, resource advantages, and latecomer advantages, a pattern of 'current vitality and future potential' for Xizang's economic development has beeninitially established. It can be said that this '300 billion yuan' is a concrete manifestation of the strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics in Xizang. It serves as powerful testimony that Xizang has entered a historical period marked by its best development, greatest changes, and most benefits for the people," said Chen Pu, Director of the Economic Strategy Research Institute at the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences, in an interview.

Looking across the snowy plateau, major projects such as the Yaxia hydropower projects, the Sichuan-Xizang Railway, and the Xizang-Guangdong ultra-high-voltage direct current project are progressing in an orderly manner. Installed capacity of clean energy has exceeded 13 million kilowatts, and the construction of 1,000 harmonious and beautiful plateau villages is underway... Having cleared the 300-billion-yuan threshold, the drive to build a modern socialist new Xizang now begins from a new starting point,with greater confidence, a firmer foundation, and stronger resolve.

Reporter: Zhang Lili, Liu Weitao, Zhang Shanghua, Liu Wentao

Translator: Dan Zhen, Liu Fang

Review: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen