Summary of 60 years of development in Xizang autonomous region
The government of the Xizang Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China has released a summary of the region's socioeconomic development over the 60 years since its establishment. This was announced by Wang Junzheng, the Party Secretary of the autonomy, during a press briefing.
According to Wang, Xizang has shown steady economic growth and developed modern industries, including clean energy, cultural tourism, and light industry. "A modern industrial system has been created, the scale of the economy is expanding, and the quality and efficiency of development are increasing," he noted.
Since 1965, the region has built extensive transportation networks, including 120,000 km of roads and 1,400 km of railways, along with the development of air travel. Issues related to power supply and access to clean drinking water in rural areas have been resolved, and stable communication is now available in all settlements.
Education has been a key focus in Xizang, with the implementation of a 15-year public education system from kindergarten through high school graduation. The healthcare system has also seen improvements, with the average life expectancy increasing to 72.5 years.
As of 2024, the region's gross regional product (GRP) reached 276.5 billion yuan, a 155-fold increase since 1965, with an average annual growth rate of 8.9%. Local budget revenues have grown by 1,258 times. In the last six years alone, the region's GRP has doubled from 100 to 200 billion yuan.
Over the 60-year period, the real income of urban residents has increased by 120 times, and that of farmers and herders has grown by nearly 200 times. In the first half of 2025, Xizang led all Chinese regions in GRP growth, with an increase of 7.2%.
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