President Xi Jinping attended events in Lhasa as Tibet marked its 60th anniversary, with authorities outlining progress in economic and social development.

President Xi Jinping joined around 20,000 officials and residents in Lhasa to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Streets in the capital were decorated with lanterns, national flags, and banners during the celebrations.

According to official data, Tibet’s GDP reached 276.5 billion yuan ($38.7 billion) in 2024, compared to 1965 levels. Life expectancy has increased from 35.5 years in the 1950s to 72.5 years.

Officials noted growth in sectors such as clean energy, cultural tourism, and light manufacturing, citing their role in raising incomes and improving living conditions.

Government reports highlighted that all 628,000 registered impoverished residents were lifted out of poverty by the end of 2019, with income levels among these groups rising by more than 12.5% in 2024. Data also show more than 7,200 medical facilities and nearly 30,000 healthcare professionals operating in the region.

Authorities also reported that religious practices, including Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, and Catholicism, continue across the region, with over 1,700 Tibetan Buddhist sites and approximately 46,000 monks and nuns. They stated that regulations govern religious affairs and that legal frameworks are in place to manage religious activities.

Tibet came under the administration of the People's Republic of China in 1951 after the signing of the Seventeen Point Agreement between representatives of the central government and local authorities. The agreement affirmed central government authority while noting provisions for local governance and religious practices.

China is divided into several administrative regions, including provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions. Tibet - Xizang is one of five autonomous regions, alongside Xinjiang, Guangxi, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia.

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