The Information Office of the State Council issued on Thursday a
white paper in Beijing entitled "
Tibet's
March Toward Modernization", which reviews the modernization
drive in Tibet over the past 50 years.
The white paper is expected to help the international community
enhance the comprehensive understanding of the history and reality
of Tibet.
The 16,000-word white paper is composed of three parts: the Rapid
Social Development in Tibet, Tibet's Modernization Achievements,
the Historical Inevitability of Tibet's Modernization.
Employing lots of facts and the latest statistics, the white paper
shows that Tibet has kept marching forward along the road to
modernization and made significant achievements that have attracted
worldwide attention, under the leadership of the Central Government
and with the aid from the rest of the country and the unremitting
efforts of the people of all ethnic groups in the region.
The white paper says modernization has been the fundamental issue
in the social development of Tibet in modern times. The feudal
serfdom under theocracy, which had lasted for several hundred years
in Tibet, stifled the development of the social productive forces
of Tibet, seriously hindered social progress, and relegated Tibet
to the state of extreme poverty, backwardness, isolation and
decline, to the point of verging on total collapse.
The white paper says that even in mid-20th century, Tibet was still
extremely isolated and backward, almost without a trace of modern
industry, commerce, science and technology, education, culture and
health care. Primitive farming methods were still in practice. The
grain yield was only four to 10 times the seeds sown.
The rigid hierarchy and savage political oppression, the fetters of
religion brought by theocracy, and the imperialists' invasion had
led to enormous deaths from hunger and cold, poverty and diseases
among the serfs, which made over 95 percent of the whole population
in Tibet 50 years ago. Crisis lurked on every side in Tibet.
On
May 23, 1951 the "Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation
of Tibet", known as the "17-Article Agreement", was signed by the
Central People's Government and the local government of Tibet,
marking the realization of the peaceful liberation of Tibet and
opening the way for Tibet to march toward modernization.
The white paper says in conforming to the interests of the Tibetan
people, the Central People's Government not only worked actively to
bring about Tibet's peaceful liberation, but also adopted key
policies and measures for Tibet's Democratic Reform, regional
autonomy, large-scale modernization, reform and opening-up. All
this has contributed to changing the lot of Tibet and propelling
Tibetan society in seven-league boots.
The modernization drive in Tibet has entered a new stage of rapid
development with the strategic decision made by the Central
People's Government to accord special attention to Tibet and get
aid for Tibet from all the other parts of the country.
The economy in Tibet has progressed significantly over the past 50
years. Tibet is fast on its way toward a modern market economy
after having thoroughly abandoned the former closed, natural
economy.
The region's GDP reached 11.746 billion yuan (US$1.42 billion) in
2000, twice as much as in 1995 and over 30 times as much as in the
pre-peaceful liberation period.
Modern industry, having grown from nothing, has gradually become an
important pillar of the fast economic development in Tibet. The
modern industrial system with Tibetan characteristics has
cultivated some nationally famous brand names.
In
2000, the region's total grain output reached 962,200 tons, and the
total amount of livestock numbered 22.66 million head.
Self-sufficiency in grains and edible oils had been basically
realized. The distribution of meat and milk per capita had
surpassed that of the national average.
People from all ethnic groups in the region have basically shaken
off poverty and had enough to eat and wear. Some are even living a
better-off life.
The white paper says that the reform and opening-up have shortened
the distance between Tibet and the rest of the country as well as
other parts of the world. In 2000, Tibet scored US$130 million of
imports and exports trade volume.
The unique natural views and cultural points of interest in Tibet
have attracted numerous tourists from both at home and abroad. In
2000, Tibet received some 600,000 tourists and earned a direct
income of 780 million yuan (US$94 million).
The Central Government and the local government of Tibet have been
keen on the coordination between environment and economic
development to better protect the fragile ecological environment in
Tibet.
They planned to invest 22.7 billion yuan (US$2.7 billion) and
initiate a number of key projects for ecological protection by the
mid-21st century to further protect and improve its ecological
environment.
The white paper says Tibet has made rapid progress in education,
science and technology, and medical and health care. The enrollment
rate of school-age children increased to 85.8 percent in 2000 from
less than two percent in the past.
By
2000, Tibet has set up 25 scientific research institutes, engaging
in studies on history, economics, linguistics and religion, as well
as Tibetan medicine and pharmacology.
The number of medical and health organizations in the region has
reached 1,237. The cooperative medical service has covered 80
percent of the Tibetan rural areas. The average life expectancy of
Tibetan people has risen from 35.5 years in the 1950s to the
present 67 years. Tibet's population had increased to 2.5983
million by 2000, or an increase of more than 160 percent over the
figure for the early 1950s.
The white paper says the State has invested a huge amount of fund,
gold and silver in protecting and maintaining the key historical
heritage in Tibet. Some fine folk art works have been collected and
published for the sake of protection and development.
The Tibetan people's freedom of religious belief, traditional
customs and habits, and their freedom to study, use and develop
their own language have been respected and protected.
The white paper says great progress has been made in
standardization of information technology in the Tibetan language.
The Tibetan code is the first ethnic minority written language in
China to have reached the international standards.
Radio, TV, telephone and the Internet have become the main methods
for the Tibetan people to learn or communicate with the rest of the
country and the world.
The white paper says people's political status has been constantly
raised, and their participation in political affairs is becoming
more and more extensive.
Currently, of all the officials in Tibet, 79.4 percent are Tibetans
and people from other ethnic minorities. Of the deputies to the
people's congress at the regional, county and township levels,
those from the Tibetan ethnic group and other ethnic minorities
make up 82.4 percent, 92.62 percent and 99 percent,
respectively.
The white paper notes that Tibet's march toward modernization
conforms to the world historical trend and the law of development
of human society, and embodies the internal demands of Tibet's
social development and the fundamental interests and wishes of the
Tibetan people.
Tibet's modernization makes an inseparable part of China's
modernization drive, and the inevitable demand from the people of
all ethnic groups for realizing common prosperity and the great
rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The white paper says as Tibet's modernization drive is unfolding in
the unique land of Tibet, it must proceed from Tibet' s actual
conditions and take the road with Tibet's local
characteristics.
It
notes in the end that the modernization drive in Tibet has been
pushing forward consistently during the protracted struggle against
the Dalai Lama clique and international hostile forces.
( November 8, 2001)