Speakers:
Mr. Wang Gang, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Mr. Yan Jinhai, deputy secretary of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region
Mr. Wang Haizhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and director general of the Publicity Department of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee
Mr. Xu Zhitao, vice chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region
Chairperson:
Ms. Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
Nov. 10, 2023
Shou Xiaoli:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Today, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) has organized this press conference to release a white paper titled "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements." We have invited Mr. Wang Gang, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to release and interpret the white paper. Also present today are Mr. Yan Jinhai, deputy secretary of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region; Mr. Wang Haizhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and director general of the Publicity Department of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee; and Mr. Xu Zhitao, vice chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region. They will brief you on the white paper and take your questions.
First, I'll give the floor to Mr. Wang to release the white paper.
Wang Gang:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Xizang is a border area mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities. The CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the development of Xizang and focused its attention on the people in the region. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed significant emphasis on ensuring the long-term stability, prosperity, and development of Xizang. The CPC Central Committee held the sixth and seventh national meetings on Xizang in 2015 and 2020, respectively, offering comprehensive guidance for the work in Xizang in the new era. These meetings have outlined a clear direction for promoting enduring stability, fostering high-quality development, meeting the people's aspirations for a better life, and realizing socialist modernization in the region. Xizang has successfully addressed numerous long-standing challenges, and reached significant milestones that were previously unattainable. It has witnessed comprehensive progress and historic accomplishments across various sectors, and ensured and realized moderate prosperity together with the rest of the country, marking a new crucial phase in achieving long-term stability and driving high-quality development.
The seventh National Meeting on Xizang included a comprehensive review of the Party's successful experience in governing Xizang and ensuring its stability. It clearly outlined 10 guidelines on the governance of Xizang in the new era. Today, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) is releasing the white paper "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements."
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the white paper fully implements the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches at the seventh National Meeting on Xizang and during his visit to Xizang. With a focus on the 10 guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era, the white paper extensively covers Xizang's advancements in various aspects, including politics, economy, culture, ethnicity, religion, society, and environment. Through concrete examples and detailed data, the white paper thoroughly illustrates Xizang's remarkable achievements in eradicating poverty, realizing moderate prosperity, enhancing social stability, fostering economic and cultural prosperity, improving the environment, and enhancing the quality of life for its people. The white paper also demonstrates the implementation of the Party's policies on religion, the ongoing fight against secessionism, the continued progress in guiding Tibetan Buddhism in adapting to socialist society, and the people's growing sense of national identity. It vividly portrays the remarkable journey of striving toward a united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious, beautiful, and modernized socialist Xizang. The progress made in Xizang serves as compelling evidence that the CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era are absolutely correct.
The white paper is structured into three sections: the foreword, the main body, and the conclusion. The main body, the text encompasses six key aspects, namely full implementation of the new development philosophy, notable achievements in cultural and ethical development, solid progress in ethnic and religious undertakings, sustained and stable social development, stronger eco-environmental security barrier, and strengthening democracy and the rule of law.
First, full implementation of the new development philosophy. In practicing the CPC guidelines on the governance of Xizang in the new era, we adhere to a people-centered approach to development and fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts. We focus on improving people's lives and strengthening unity in promoting comprehensive and rapid economic and social progress. Consistent support has been extended to facilitate the development of Xizang. In 2022, Xizang's GDP reached 213.364 billion yuan, an increase by a factor of 2.28 compared with that in 2012 at constant prices. Xizang has witnessed significant enhancements in infrastructure construction, a historic eradication of absolute poverty, and notable advancements in common prosperity. These improvements have ensured that people of all ethnic groups in Xizang have greater senses of gain, fulfillment, and security. Nyima Tsering, a leading performer of Tibetan Opera, said, "In the old days, we performed Tibetan Opera to please the serf owners. Today, we do it to showcase the better life we are living now."
Second, notable achievements in cultural and ethical development. The CPC guidelines on the governance of Xizang in the new era advocate being guided by core socialist values, actively promoting China's fine traditional culture, fostering the growth and development of an advanced socialist culture, and continuously encouraging the preservation and innovative development of ethnic cultures. Xizang has effectively safeguarded its historical and cultural heritages, ensuring the protection and development of Tibetan medicine and the proper preservation of Tibetan classics. The study and use of the Tibetan language and script are guaranteed by law. In 2013, the country launched a priority cultural project – "Library of Chinese Classics: Tibetan Volume." According to the plan, the project would take 15 years to collect and publish important Tibetan classical works from the period between the Tubo Kingdom (618-842) and the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951. This is a landmark project in protecting and promoting traditional Tibetan culture. Furthermore, Xizang's public cultural endeavors are thriving, with a flourishing cultural industry and a vibrant and diverse spiritual and cultural life enjoyed by people of all ethnic groups.
Third, solid progress in ethnic and religious undertakings. The CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era uphold the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation. The guidelines actively provide guidance to religions so that they can adapt to the socialist society, and promote interactions, exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups. The guidelines require that the region's development serves to benefit ethnic unity and progress and to safeguard national unity and oppose separatism. Under the sound guidance of the CPC guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era, the region has fully guaranteed the freedom of religious beliefs, further enhanced the systems and mechanisms for law-based management of religious affairs, and deepened the "five identifications" (identifying with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics). These guidelines have consistently fortified ethnic unity and progress, and strengthened the sense of Chinese identity. At the national level, 140 groups and 189 individuals in Xizang were honored by the State Council as models of ethnic solidarity and progress.
Fourth, sustained and stable social development. The CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era have emphasized the importance of accurately understanding the present work in Xizang, coordinating development and security, strengthening social governance, and safeguarding national security, social stability, and the people's wellbeing. By following those policies, Xizang has embarked on a high-quality development path that aligns with its specific realities and circumstances. The social governance capacity and modernization level of Xizang have undergone significant improvements. Comprehensive systems, including a modern education system, a housing support system, a public health service system, and an inclusive social security system, have been effectively established throughout the region. Notable achievements have been made in building a safe Xizang. The public's satisfaction and support for the Party and the government continued to increase. Lhasa has made the list of the "Happiest Cities in China" seven times. The safety index of people of all ethnic groups in the region has stayed above 99% for years.
Fifth, stronger eco-environmental security barrier. The CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era require the region to prioritize ecological conservation, and firm up the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and so are ice and snow. The policies also stress the importance of following a holistic approach to coordinating conservation and development, resolutely pursuing green and sustainable development, and striving to build a beautiful Xizang where human beings and nature coexist in harmony. Through consistent efforts, the construction of Xizang's nature reserve system has entered a new stage. The number and the total area of nature reserves have significantly increased; biodiversity on the plateau has gradually improved; the eco-environmental governance system has continued to optimize; and people's living environment has kept getting better. Xizang's rich eco-environmental resources are becoming the "real estate for a happy life" that the local people can see and keep. The development of the green and low-carbon industry has opened up a beautiful path toward prosperity and happiness, which enhances not only the quality of life for the people but also the border security. From 2016 to 2022, 8.32 million mu (554,666 hectares) of forests were planted in Xizang, and 537,700 eco-environmental conservation jobs were created on average each year.
Sixth, strengthening democracy and the rule of law. The CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era emphasize that, to ensure the work on Xizang is carried out well, the CPC leadership, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy must be upheld to provide the fundamental guarantee for Xizang's long-term stability, prosperity, and development. In the new era, Xizang has made continuous progress in advancing socialist democracy and fully implementing the system of regional ethnic autonomy. Democracy has been translated into extensive, pragmatic, and vivid actions at the grassroots; marked progress has been made in the governance of Xizang according to law; and anti-corruption efforts have been intensified. The CPC's overall leadership over Xizang has continued to strengthen, and the right of all people of all ethnic groups to be masters of the region and the country has been effectively ensured.
That's all for my introduction. Thank you.
