Over the past six decades, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has made historic economic and social strides since its establishment in 1965, local officials said at a press briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

Officials highlighted the region's transformation from a poverty-stricken area to a modern, thriving society, characterized by unprecedented economic growth, improved living standards, and the preservation of its unique cultural heritage.

According to Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, as of 2024, Xizang's GDP has surged to 276.5 billion yuan ($38.5 billion), 155 times its 1965 figure, reflecting an annual growth rate of 8.9 percent. Fiscal revenue has grown 1,258-fold, reaching 27.7 billion yuan. Notably, it took the region 50 years to reach the first trillion yuan in GDP, but just six years to achieve the second trillion yuan GDP.

In addition to economic growth, significant strides have been made in improving living standards. Wang said that Xizang has eradicated absolute poverty, and its education system now offers 15 years of free education from kindergarten to high school. Public healthcare coverage has been expanded, with life expectancy reaching 72.5 years. Urbanization has accelerated, with modern towns emerging across the plateau, while traditional Tibetan culture has been effectively preserved.

Infrastructure development has also seen remarkable progress, with Xizang's transportation network now encompassing highways, railways and air routes. According to Wang, by the end of 2024, Xizang has over 124,900 kilometers of roads and 1,359 kilometers of railways, alongside 183 domestic and international air routes. The region has also made strides in energy and digital connectivity, with comprehensive power grids and 4G networks reaching even the most remote villages.

Ecological protection remains a key priority for the Xizang government, with over 50 percent of the region's land designated under ecological conservation red lines. Wang said Xizang has adopted an integrated approach to protect mountains, rivers, forests, grasslands and wetlands.

In recent years, Xizang has launched large-scale afforestation projects, planting over 1 million mu (approximately 66,700 hectares) of forest. As a result, the region's forest coverage rate has increased to 12.31 percent. The region now also enjoys over 99.7 percent of days with good air quality, and all major rivers and lakes meet or exceed Class III water standards, making it one of the world's best-preserved ecological regions.

As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region, a series of conferences, exhibitions and cultural activities will be held, according to Wang.