16th China Lecture lays out Tibet's progress

Sun Xiangjun, an official from the regional academy of social sciences, said since the 1950s, under the leadership of the CPC, along with the historical process of China's socialist revolution, construction and reform — and with the support of the central government and the whole nation — Tibet's social productivity has been rapidly liberated and developed. It has undergone earth-shaking changes.

Sun noted that in recent decades, Tibet's economic and social development has seen healthy, rapid development. Social undertakings have flourished and cultural construction has expanded.

The region has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in building itself into a united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious and beautiful new socialist Tibet in the modern new era, Sun said.

"Absolute poverty has been eliminated in the region, which has achieved social harmony and stability. People enjoy happiness and well-being, ecological quality maintains good momentum and the excellent traditional culture has received better protection, inheritance and development," Sun said.