8-9 November 11–12, 2023

　　INFOGRAPHIC

　　A land of happiness: White paper paints a modern and traditional Xizang, portrays colorful life with statistics, examples

　　Editor's Note:

　　Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region is now a land of happiness.

　　Today in Xizang, devotees of Tibetan Buddhism and tourists from everywhere weave through Barkhor Street, embracing the unique local traditional culture. In tea houses, locals sip sweet tea and chat about their everyday lives. At high-end malls, people shop for international brand clothing and mobile phones and also purchase local handicrafts at street-side markets. There is no need to worry about children's education or safety, as they enjoy free, high-quality education starting from kindergarten, with many advancing to university. In temples, monks vigorously debate and share their Buddhist knowledge, whipping their prayer beads in hand. Even in the most remote border regions, people live in beautiful new houses, fully enjoying the conveniences of modern life. In the wilderness, wildlife roams free across vast landscapes under the silent vigil of pastoral rangers.

　　This is Xizang, both traditional and modern, steadily developing on its own path.

　　On Friday, China published CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements, a white paper explaining China’s policies in the region and its achievements.

　　In this edition, the Global Times has organized some of the important content of this white paper in an intuitive presentation through data and charts, while also showcasing the governance path and achievements of Xizang.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has implemented a people-centered approach to development, according to the white paper.

　　With a strategic vision to rejuvenate the Chinese nation, and to ensure that Xizang will realize moderate prosperity and modernization together with the rest of the country, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the development of the region while focusing its attention on its people.

　　The seventh National Meeting on Xizang in 2020 outlined the CPC guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era. These guidelines, grounded on the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the actual situation of Xizang, demonstrate a keen understanding of work related to the region. They encapsulate the CPC’s past successes in stabilizing Xizang and its plans for future development.

　　The seventh National Meeting on Xizang in 2020 outlined the CPC guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era. These guidelines, grounded on the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the actual situation of Xizang, demonstrate a keen understanding of work related to the region.

　　Embodying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, these guidelines provide answers to a series of questions on the future direction and strategy in governing Xizang and are to be followed in all undertakings related to the region.

　　Following the CPC's guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era, and with nationwide support, officials and the peoples of the various ethnic groups in the autonomous region have worked together and achieved all-round progress and historic success in various undertakings.?

　　Significant progress has been made in stabilizing the social environment, achieving rapid economic progress, and strengthening the Party organization in Xizang, which has led to a better life for its people, amity among all ethnic groups and religions, cultural prosperity, sound ecological systems, and secure borders.

　　Full Implementation of the New Development Philosophy

　　In 2022, Xizang’s GDP reached 213.26 billion yuan ($29.2 billion).

　　From 2012 to 2022

　　Number of tourists to Xizang: 10.58 to 30.03 million

　　Revenues from tourism (yuan): 12.65 billion to 40.71 billion

　　5G base stations: 8,099

　　5G networks now cover all counties/districts and main towns in Xizang.

　　Notable Achievements in Cultural Development

　　A total of 4,468 sites of historical or cultural interest have been examined, registered and protected by local county or district governments.

　　The Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (including the Potala Palace, Norbulingka, and Jokhang Temple) has been registered on the World Heritage List.

　　Three items – Gesar, Tibetan Opera, and the Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa of Xizang – have been registered on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

　　The Tibetan language is widely used in fields such as health, postal services, communications, transport, finance, and science and technology.

　　By the end of 2022, Xizang had 17 periodicals and 11 newspapers in the Tibetan language, and had published 45.01 million copies of 7,959 Tibetan-language books.

　　Solid Progress in Ethnic and Religious Undertakings

　　The region today hosts

　　Tibetan Buddhism: 1,700+ sites; ~46,000 monks and nuns

　　Islam: 4 mosques; ~12,000 native Muslim

　　Catholics: 1 church; 700 believers

　　Over 1,700 religious and folk activities including the Shoton Festival, Butter Lamp Festival, Saga Dawa Festival, and walks around lakes and mountains have been preserved and vitalized.

　　The reincarnation of the living Buddhas has been carried out in an orderly manner.

　　By the end of 2022, 93 newly reincarnated living Buddhas have been approved and recognized.

　　Sustained and Stable Social Development

　　From 2012 to 2022, the central government invested more than 251.51 billion yuan in education in Xizang.

　　At present, the region has:

　　3,409 schools, 944,000+ students

　　Gross enrollment rate for preschool education: 89.52 percent

　　Completion rate for compulsory education: 97.83 percent

　　Gross enrollment rate in senior high schools: 91.07 percent

　　Number of college or university graduates per 100,000 inhabitants in Xizang:

　　2010: 5,507

　　2020: 11,019

　　Stronger Environmental Protection

　　There are 47 nature reserves of different types at all levels, which cover a total area of 412,200 square kilometers.

　　Number of Tibetan antelopes: 70,000 in the 1990s to 300,000+

　　Number of wild yaks: 10,000 to 20,000+

　　Number of black-necked cranes: 3,000 to 10,000+

　　Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law

　　Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, two elections have been held in Xizang to elect the regional people’s congress, in which more than 90 percent of eligible voters participated in the county and township-level direct elections, while the participation rate in some places even reached as high as 100 percent.

　　Of the 24 deputies of the Xizang delegation to the 14th NPC, 16 were from ethnic minority groups.