Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has made remarkable strides in improving people's living standards over the past six decades, according to a press briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.
Wang Junzheng, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, briefed the media on the economic and social achievements since 1965, when the Xizang Autonomous Region was established.
"Xizang has achieved a complete victory in its fight against poverty, eradicating absolute poverty after centuries of struggle. Education has been prioritized. Xizang led the country in providing 15 years of publicly-funded education from kindergarten to senior high school. Traditional culture has been effectively preserved, protected, and utilised, and public cultural services have continued to improve. Progress has been made in developing urban and rural public health services, including comprehensive health check-ups for all farmers and herders. Life expectancy has risen to 72.5 years. The region also further stepped up urbanization efforts with modern towns emerging one after another on the snow-capped plateau," Wang said.
"The social security system has been continuously strengthened, ensuring a strong safety net for all residents. In 2024, the per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 55,444 yuan (over 7,720 U.S. dollars), 121 times that in 1965, with an average annual growth rate of 8.5 percent. The per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 21,578 yuan, 199 times that of 1965, with an average annual growth rate of 9.4 percent. These achievements demonstrate the shared benefits of reform and development, ensuring access to housing, employment, pensions, education, and healthcare for all ethnic groups in Xizang," he added.
China's Xizang reports remarkable progress in living standards over 60 years
