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Data shows Tibet's 50 years of changes

(China Tibet Online)

Updated: 2015-07-30 11:20:41

Moneybags filling, livelihood packages growing, smooth roads unfold…Recently, Wu Yingjie, deputy Party secretary of Tibet autonomous region reveals a report on Tibet's economic achievements of 50 years.

Moneybags filling-Per capita Disposable income increased 40 times over that of 1978

In recent years, economic growth and residents' per capita disposable income has become the primary concern in Tibet.

In 2014, Tibet's GDP reached 92.083 billion yuan, increasing by 10.8 percent year on year, 281 times that of the GDP 50 years earlier. Tibet has maintained double-digit growth for 22 consecutive years.

The region’s financial revenue reached 16.475 billion yuan, increasing by a total of 49.2 percent, 748 times that of the revenue 50 years prior.

Investment in fixed assets totaled at 111.973 billion yuan, increasing by a total of 21.9 percent year by year, 605 times that recorded in 1978.

Retail sales of consumer goods totaled at 36.45 billion yuan, increasing 13.1 percent, 149 times that in 1978.

Particularly worth noting is that in 2014, Tibet's per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 22,016 yuan, increasing by 7.9 percent, 39 times since 1978; per capita disposable income of rural residents totaled 7,359 yuan, increasing by 12.3percent, 42 times since 1978.

In the first half of this year, there is expected growth of GDP by 11.3 percent over the entire region. Disposable income of rural residents is expected to increase by 13 percent, and that of urban residents is expected to increase by nine percent.

Livelihood packages growing-More than 70 percent of public revenues will be used to improve people's livelihood

In recent years, Tibet has persisted in using more than 70 percent of public revenue to ensure and improve people's livelihood. Each year there are "ten practical things" benefiting people as well as Buddhist monks. Management has also painstakingly aimed to ease concerns of citizens of all ethnic groups such as employment, medical care, education, social security, health care, housing, income and other practical problems.

First, improved education is ensured to citizens of all ethnic groups. Full implementation of Tibet’s 15-year free compulsory education and "three guarantees” policy, increasing the annual benefits to 3,000 yuan per student. Elementary school gross enrollment reached 99.64 percent, middle school gross enrollment reached 98.91 percent, and high school gross enrollment reached 73.37 percent. Since establishment of the policy, illiteracy in the autonomous region fell to 0.6 percent.

Second, stable employment will be provided to citizens of all ethnic groups. Most college graduates in Tibet are successfully employed. Urban unemployment rate for registered people has been maintained at less than 2.5 percent. 940,000 surplus labor in agricultural and pastoral areas find employment.

Third, sufficient income will be guaranteed to citizens of all ethnic groups. In 2014, disposable income of urban residents reached 22,016 yuan, which is 39 times greater than that in 1978. Disposable income of rural residents reached 7,359 yuan, 42 times greater than that in 1978.

Fourth, more reliable social security is ensured to all citizens of all ethnic groups. More than 95 percent of people now have insurance. More than 5,900 orphans now receive effective aid.

Fifth, citizens of all ethnic groups are ensured higher standards of medical service. Agricultural and pastoral areas rely on free medical health care to treat farmers and herdsmen. All urban residents, monks, and nuns receive free health examinations. The total life expectancy has increased from 35.5 years to 68.17 years currently during the past 50 years.

Sixth, create more comfortable residential living space requirements for citizens of all ethnic groups. Currently, housing projects have been completed, providing safe homes to 460,000 households of farmers and herdsmen. In Lhasa city residents are now provided with heating, ending a history of generations using cow dung to keep warm.

Seventh, construct a more beautiful environment for citizens of all nationalities. In recent years, Tibet has resolved issues of safe drinking water problems for 730,000 people. Road accessibility rate to villages is also now at 99.14 percent. Communication and optical cables now reach 97.5 percent of all villages. Postal communications now reach 91.6 percent of all villages. Comprehensive coverage and broadcast television reach between 94.78 percent and 95.91 percent of the population.

Eighth, increase happiness levels in the lives of citizens of all ethnic groups. A survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences showed that in Lhasa ranked in the forefront of 38 cities nationally to adequately fulfill basic public services.

A Smooth Road Unfolds-Highway mileage now totals 75,470 km

Tibet has rapidly advanced the construction of national and provincial roads, county roads, economic routes, border highways, rural roads, and increased total highway length by 4,878 km, for a total length of 75,470 km.

At present, the rate of unobstructed connections between 74 counties is at 93.24 percent. Connection rate between villages is at 99.7 percent. Structured communications between villages are at 99.14 percent.

At the same time, reconstruction for expansion of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has received national approval. The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway is now under construction.

In addition, Gonggar Airport, Nyingchi Airport expansion projects are under construction. The initial stages for a regional domestic aviation network have been formed. Currently the Tibetan aviation network has reached 33 cities and increased to 48 routes in total. On a peak traffic day Gonggar Airport receives over 100 vehicles and in 2014 processed more than three million visitors.

Comprehensive traffic network system formed in Tibet.

Bringing forth the environment's beauty-Protecting Tibet's Land

In recent years, Tibet has increased restrictions on construction projects, prohibiting high levels of pollution, emissions and energy consumption in Tibet.

Tibet also increased reforestation efforts, stemmed desertification to 115,300 hectares, manually afforested 1,837,700 mu, afforested 1,982,200 mu of hillsides, restricted grazing of 34.1 million mu of grassland, manually cultivated 364,000 mu of grasslands, and controlled soil and water loss in a total area of 423 square km.(1 mu= 0.165 acre)

Currently, the entire region has already established 22 ecologically protection areas, eight national forest parks, five national wetland parks, four geological parks, three national scenic areas and 47 nature reserves, 412,200 square km in total, which make up 34.5 percent of the total land area of Tibet.

A report issued by the Chinese Academy of Science states, Tibet's water and air are free of pollution. Water quality of the rivers, lakes, and groundwater are Grade I and II. Air quality in the region is also excellent.

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