As Xizang commemorates the 66th anniversary of its democratic reforms this week, a newly released white paper titled Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era underscores the region's transformative journey since the abolition of feudal serfdom in 1959. Once characterized by widespread poverty and rigid social hierarchies, the reforms marked what scholars describe as a 'civilizational leap' for its people.
Before 1959, an estimated 95% of Xizang's population lived under a hereditary serfdom system with limited access to education, healthcare, or legal rights. The reforms established modern governance structures and redistributed land to farmers and herders. According to the document, Xizang's GDP has grown over 100-fold since 1959, with per capita disposable income increasing by over 180% in the past decade alone.
Modern Xizang boasts 15,000 km of highways, 5 operational airports, and a renewable energy infrastructure meeting 90% of local electricity needs. The white paper highlights cultural preservation efforts, including the digital archiving of 1.3 million pages of ancient Tibetan texts and government-supported training for 12,000 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.
While addressing persistent challenges in healthcare accessibility across remote areas, the report emphasizes Xizang's life expectancy doubling from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72. The anniversary has sparked academic discussions globally about models for sustainable development in high-altitude regions.
