The 2025 gross domestic product (GDP) of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region broke through the 300-billion-yuan (about 43 billion U.S. dollars) threshold for the first time, the regional statistics bureau announced on Thursday.
It took the region 50 years, from its establishment in 1965, to hit the 100-billion-yuan GDP mark in 2015. Six years later, in 2021, its GDP surpassed 200 billion yuan. Then, it took only four more years to reach the 300-billion-yuan milestone, up from 276.5 billion yuan in 2024.
According to Tian Guanghua, director of local statistics bureau, the economy of Xizang has shown remarkable resilience, and the growth rate of Xizang's major economic indicators has led the nation for many consecutive years. Tian also said that the region's economy has grown in both quantity and quality at the same time.
Notably, the region continues to prioritize ecological protection alongside economic development.
Regional GDP of China's Xizang exceeds 300 bln yuan in 2025
Serbia's Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamocic hailed the surge in exports to China following the launch of a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) in recent years, calling the pact a strategic relationship of mutual vision and voicing optimism for deeper bilateral cooperation.
The FTA between China and Serbia, signed in October 2023 and implemented on July 1, 2024, eliminates tariffs on roughly 90 percent of bilateral trade. More than 60 percent of goods became duty-free immediately upon its entry into force, marking a decisive step in deepening economic ties.
He said the agreement has reshaped Serbia’s trade profile, fueling a 69-percent jump in agricultural exports while accelerating imports of Chinese technologies and farm mechanization.
"The relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia, I would describe as a long-term, strategic relationship of mutual political and clear economic vision.The Free Trade Agreement between our countries was signed in 2023. It was introduced in 2024. As a result, our trade exchange has greatly improved, especially in the field of agriculture. We can say from that moment our exports to China grew for 69 percent. We have also made easier the import of certain things, such as mechanization and digital technologies, from the People's Republic of China to Serbia," said Glamocic.
"Our traditional products, such as wine, our domestic brandy, our honey, dried plums, frozen raspberries, similarly, imports of modern technologies from China are increasing, mechanization also, which really improves our agriculture business in Serbia. So I am an optimist that it will get better and better every day," he added.
The minister spoke highly of Serbia's partnership with China and voiced hope for broader cooperation in the future.
"What I would expect from China is that we sometimes try to speed up these procedures as much as possible. It is especially an honor for us when such a small country has such a status in the People's Republic of China. We were the first country to sign this type of strategic document in Europe, and we have reached the highest possible level among the two countries," he said.
Serbian agriculture minister reports record export growth to China
