Tibet's GDP grows 9 pct in 2019

LHASA -- The gross domestic product in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region grew about nine percent in 2019.

Tibet's GDP was estimated at more than 160 billion yuan (around $23 billion) last year, Qizhala, chairman of the regional government, said in his government work report delivered Tuesday at the third session of the 11th People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region.

The per capita disposable income for the region's rural residents grew about 13 percent, while that for urban residents rose more than 10 percent.

In 2020, Qizhala said in the report that Tibet's GDP is expected to maintain a stable growth of 9 percent. The total retail sales of consumer goods aim to grow 10 percent this year.

Meanwhile, the per capita disposable income for the region's urban and rural residents in 2020 is estimated to grow 10 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Qizhala added that the region aims to create 50,000 urban jobs and ensure that the registered unemployment rate does not rise above 3.6 percent.