LHASA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) — More than 400 government officials, diplomats, experts from various fields, and enterprise and media representatives from 44 countries and regions gathered on Wednesday in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region to share their insights and expertise for the region’s sustained progress.
The 2025 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China, hosted by the Xizang regional government and centering on the theme “Discovering a beautiful Xizang and writing a new chapter on the plateau,” focuses on key topics including international communication, the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era, and Xizang’s image-building, its development philosophies and practical pathways.
This year’s forum coincides with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region.
Over the past 60 years, under the CPC’s leadership, Xizang has achieved a historic leap from backwardness to advancement, from isolation to openness, and from poverty to prosperity, Wang Junzheng, secretary of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, said in his remarks.
“Xizang has accomplished in just decades what would have taken centuries or even a millennium, serving as a vivid testament to the strengths of the socialist system,” Wang added.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mo Gaoyi, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office, stressed that as China is formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development, the modernization of Xizang now stands at a new historical starting point.
Since its inception in 2007, the forum has become a vital window for the international community to understand, observe and gain insight into Xizang, Mo said, calling for efforts to strengthen the exchange of governance experience, improve the well-being of the people and tell the story of human rights in Xizang, as well as enhance exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.
The one-day forum was held in Nyingchi City, a place that was once remote and desolate, known in ancient times as a place of exile. Today, it rivals Lhasa in fame and has become one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, often hailed as the “Jiangnan of Xizang.” It has transformed into a vibrant, open city that warmly welcomes visitors from around the world.
Nyingchi’s development journey — from remarkable infrastructure transformation and thriving local industries to improved livelihoods and the careful preservation of its lucid waters and lush mountains — stands as a testament to China’s successful governance in Xizang and its commitment to revitalizing border regions and enriching people’s lives.
Official data showed that the city’s GDP soared from 66 million yuan (about 9.32 million U.S. dollars) in 1986 to about 26.78 billion yuan in 2024, marking a 406-fold increase. Meanwhile, the per capita disposable income of rural residents rose from 425 yuan to 27,427 yuan over the same period, reflecting a nearly 65-fold growth.
“Xizang’s story is one of transformation,” Shahbaz Khan, director and representative to the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, said in his opening remarks delivered on behalf of the UN secretary-general. “We’re witnessing the once remote region now stands connected through modern infrastructure that links even its highest valleys and most distant communities. These investments have expanded opportunities while enabling better access to services, education, and markets.”
Xizang’s development serves as an exemplary model, showcasing the effectiveness of local government policies and the dedicated efforts of its residents, said Jetigenov Bakytbek, plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Issyk-Kul Region, citing Xizang’s remarkable achievements in economic growth, social progress, infrastructure development and cultural heritage conservation.
Bakytbek also noted that a delegation from the Issyk-Kul Region conducted a study tour in Xizang to learn from its practical experience in socio-economic development, infrastructure construction, green energy development and tourism.
Paolo Sabbatini, international spokesperson for Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that in international communication, Italy is ready to serve as a strategic partner in showcasing Xizang to the world in its true richness, presenting it as authentic, multidimensional and modern.
“Through joint curatorial projects, traveling exhibitions and artistic exchanges, we can help the world perceive Xizang not as a distant legend, but as a vibrant and evolving cultural landscape where ancient traditions meet contemporary innovation,” he added.
This year’s forum features four dedicated sub-forums held to explore pathways in international communication, sustainable local industries, youth engagement and environmental protection on the plateau. ■
