High-quality development track heralds prosperous, harmonious future for Xizang: China Daily editorial

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang autonomous region. The visit of a central delegation, led by President Xi Jinping, to the autonomous region, starting on Wednesday, to attend activities in celebration of the anniversary demonstrates the great significance the central authorities attach to the development of Xizang.

The warm welcome President Xi and the delegation received from people of various ethnic groups in Xizang shows local residents' appreciation for and support of the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Xi at its core, which has ushered in a tremendous transformation of the region over the years.

With development and the casting off of the shackles of serfdom, the living standards of people in Xizang have improved dramatically. The average life expectancy has risen from 35.5 years in 1959 to 72.5 years today.

And, in 2024, the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 55,444 yuan ($7,725) on average, 121 times the figure of 1965. That of rural residents was 21,578 yuan, an increase of 199 times.

Over the past 60 years, Xizang has achieved many remarkable milestones. Its development has been guided, particularly in the new era, by a comprehensive strategy that focuses on stability, development, ecology and border-area consolidation. The region has made consistent efforts to fulfill the tasks in these four areas that are critical to its development. This has ensured steady progress for the region as well as tangible benefits for local residents.

The region's gross domestic product reached 276.5 billion yuan in 2024, 155 times that of 1965, with an average annual growth rate of 8.9 percent. That it took the region 50 years to achieve its first 100 billion yuan in GDP and the second 100 billion yuan milestone was reached just six years later speaks volumes about the importance the country's leadership attaches to the development of the region.

The central authorities have consistently prioritized stability in Xizang. Social harmony and ethnic unity are fundamental to the region's progress. This makes the region a vivid example of the vitality, cohesion and shared prosperity of the Chinese nation.

Ecological conservation is also a key task. On a plateau more than 4,000 meters above sea level on average, Xizang has a fragile ecosystem, which makes ecological conservation a priority. The region serves as both a national ecological barrier and a key strategic area in the national development layout. About half of the region's territory, 600,000 square kilometers in all, has been placed under strict ecological conservation. Forty-seven nature reserves encompassing a total area of 412,200 square kilometers have been established.

In 2024, days with good air quality reached 99.7 percent in the region. Water quality of all the rivers and lakes in the region reached or was above the good quality level. Major ecological projects — from afforestation to wetland restoration — have strengthened the foundation for green development while creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

At the same time, Xizang has strengthened the protection of its rich intangible cultural heritage, from Tibetan opera to thangka art, recognizing them as integral treasures of the broader Chinese culture.

Religious freedom is fully guaranteed and cultural heritage is carefully safeguarded according to law. The policy on freedom of religious belief is fully implemented, with all religions respected and protected.

As President Xi stressed in a meeting with local officials in Lhasa on Wednesday, the focus of Xizang's development should always be on the aforementioned four priorities.

Indeed, Xizang would not have made the achievements it has were it not for the good job it has done on those four matters of crucial significance. President Xi's emphasis on relevant endeavors provides the region with strategic guidance for its development work in the future.

To that end, as Xi urged, authorities at different levels in the region should fully and faithfully grasp the new development philosophy of the Party, and apply it to all areas throughout the process of economic and social development.

Doing so is necessitated by the modernization requirement of the autonomous region in its pursuit of high-quality development.

With the strong support of the central authorities, people in the region are building a modern socialist new Xizang that is united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious and beautiful.