Xizang writes new chapter in development

The founding of the Xizang autonomous region in September 1965 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the region's history, as people of all ethnic groups in Xizang embarked on the path of socialist construction and development together with the rest of the country. In the six decades since then, Xizang has made remarkable economic and social achievements, creating a new era in its development journey.

In the new era, the region's economic aggregate has grown rapidly. By 2024, its GDP reached 276.49 billion yuan ($38.49 billion), while its innovation capacity continued to rise, with increasing investment in science and technology and vigorous expansion of the high-tech digital industry. By 2024, the value added from Xizang's digital economy reached 27.5 billion yuan, accounting for more than 10 percent of its GDP. And coordinated regional development advanced steadily, with the narrowing of the urban-rural income gap to 2.57:1 in 2024.

Green development, too, has gained pace, while the proportion of days with excellent air quality has remained above 99 percent, major rivers and lakes meet or exceed class III water quality standards, and the soil condition continues to be stable and safe.

In 2024, total retail sales of consumer goods in the region and its total import-export increased by 7.2 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively. Shared development has also made headway, with notable improvement in people's livelihoods and social undertakings. While a multi-tier social security system has taken shape, per capita disposable income and per capita consumption expenditure in 2024 grew by 8.2 percent and 10.2 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Xizang has completed a large number of major projects vital to the economy and people's well-being, clearing infrastructure bottlenecks. The total length of roads open to traffic stands at 123,300 kilometers, and the number of civil aviation routes exceeds 190, with new hydropower projects beginning to generate electricity. The large-scale projects have not only narrowed the long-standing infrastructure gaps, but also laid a solid foundation for high-quality development. In 2024, Xizang's fixed-asset investment grew by 19.6 percent, playing a key role in driving economic growth and structural adjustment.

Xizang has also developed its distinctive industries. It has fostered nine major industries that align with local conditions, creating new engines for high-quality development. Traditional industries have undergone rapid upgrading, while distinct sectors have grown stronger, emerging industries have expanded, and future industries are being planned, resulting in a modern industrial structure featuring a solid agricultural base, higher manufacturing capacity and a modern service sector.

Moreover, the living standards of Xizang residents have improved dramatically, with the region achieving the historic mission of eradicating poverty. As a matter of fact, in 2024, Xizang's per capita GDP reached 75,237 yuan, with per capita disposable income reaching 31,358 yuan. Rising incomes have boosted consumption, helping create a more balanced consumption structure. In actual terms, per capita consumer spending stood at 18,983 yuan in 2024.

High-quality development is key to building a modern socialist country. In the new era, Xizang must continue to pursue high-quality development by faithfully applying the new development philosophy and drawing on six decades of experience. The region should focus on optimizing the development pattern, strengthening infrastructure and factor allocation, improving institutions and leveraging resource advantages to achieve both qualitative and quantitative growth. Its goal should be to reach the national average development level.

However, given its low starting point and late takeoff, Xizang still faces structural weaknesses. Over the past 60 years, the central government has provided strong policy support for Xizang. As such, the region should continue to make full use of the preferential policies, deepen reform, strengthen factor mobility and narrow the infrastructure gaps. Also, it should foster "new quality productive forces", boost demand, and advance urban-rural integration, all while improving the people's wellbeing.

Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics. So Xizang must advance it vigorously by leveraging its institutional strengths, and properly balancing efficiency and equity. This means Xizang needs to build systems that promote both material and cultural wealth, advance urban-rural integration to enrich rural areas, and strengthen the sense of community among residents to enhance spiritual prosperity, ensuring that all ethnic groups in the region steadily move toward achieving common prosperity.

Chen Pu is director of the Economic Strategy Research Institute of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences; and Zhang Lili is an assistant researcher at the same institute.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.