薩爾波塔姆·什雷斯塔： Xizang Making Transformative Leap Forward

Xizang, an autonomous region of China, has witnessed remarkable progress in recent times. Its development over the past decade has been more significant than the cumulative advancements made in the previous 50 years. Substantial improvements have been achieved in various sectors, including infrastructure, industrial growth, human development, economic expansion, cultural preservation, and tourism promotion.

In 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced a people-centred approach to development, which led to a strategic vision to rejuvenate the Chinese nation. President Xi wanted that Xizang should achieve moderate prosperity and move on the path of modernisation together with the rest of the country. After a decade, Xizang has witnessed the tremendous transformation of the Chinese nation from standing up to growing in strength, and they are now embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.  

New development strategy 

The geographical condition of Xizang is very challenging. It lies at 3,500 metres above sea level and 3.6 million people have dispersed over 1.23 million square kilometres. Economic development began soon after the development of Eastern China. The Chinese government has given special attention to new development strategies, physical infrastructure construction, the development of distinctive industries, regional development, rural development strategies, reform and open policies, and urbanisation strategies. Because of such master plans and programmes with development strategies, Xizang has undergone rapid economic development in recent years. The region took the lead in the growth rates of major economic indicators across the country in 2023. It has achieved a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 9.5 percent in 2023, compared to the national growth rate of 5.2 percent. 

Its GDP per capita exceeded 60,000 yuan. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents rose by 6.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The region's fixed-asset investment increased by 30 percent, with investment in infrastructure up by 34.8 percent and investment in areas related to people's livelihoods up by 31.8 percent. Its retail sales increased by 22 percent, and foreign trade surged by 130 percent compared to a year ago. The Xizang tourism industry set a historical record with tourist arrivals surpassing 55 million and tourism revenue hitting 65 billion yuan.

The railway tracks have increased from 521km in 2012 to 1,359km in 2022, making it the highest-altitude railway in the world. Similarly, the total length of highways has increased from 65,198km to 121,447km. The number of airports has risen from 5 to 7, and the number of mobile towers has risen from 7,000 to 61,900. Similarly, the average life span has increased to 72.19 years from 68.17 years in 2012. Urban employment has risen to 51,000 from 25,000. The number of health care providers per thousand people has increased to 7.17 from 3.67. The percentage of the population benefiting from the free education programme targeted for age groups has increased to 97.73 percent from 80.05. 

Exchange and cooperation with neighbouring regions and countries have been strengthened. Gyirong Port has been upgraded as an international highway port, realising the bilateral opening up between China and Nepal. In 2022, the total value of Xizang's foreign trade stood at 4.6 billion yuan, and its trading partners covered 95 countries and regions. Events such as the Forum on the Development of Xizang, the International Symposium of the Xizang Think Tank, the Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo, and the Trans-Himalaya International Extreme Cycling Race have become important platforms for promoting exchanges, mutual learning, and cooperation between Xizang and the rest of the world. 

Recently, at the Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo, representatives and businessmen from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Japan participated in the event. The participants experienced the progress made by Xizang and emphasised the role of the Chinese government in implementing special policies for its development. It also provided insights into the future development plans of Xizang, generating opportunities for investment and collaboration.

The Chinese government has invested a substantial amount of money in the infrastructure development of Xizang, with an investment of 78.2 billion yuan during the 11th five-year plan (2006–2010 AD) and 3.16 trillion yuan during the 12th five-year plan (2011–2015). The 14th five-year plan, which started in 2021, includes 151 socio-economic developmental projects with a total budget of 6.015 trillion yuan for Xizang. Those projects include 22 frontier enhancement projects, 45 improving people’s living standards projects, 48 physical infrastructure construction projects, 14 environmental protection projects, 8 political and social management capacity building projects, and 14 distinctive industry development projects. 

Magical impact 

Apart from these, the Xizang government has proposed 393 projects costing 50 million yuan, which are spread in all seven zones. These projects include cultural tourism, greenery, distinctive agriculture and animal husbandry, modern service industries, clean energy, cross-border business and transportation, modern digital industries, traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM), and pharmaceutical industries. There are 5 such projects proposed in the Ngari zone, 15 in the Naqu zone, 46 in the Sigatse zone, 191 in the capital of Xizang, Lhasa, 42 in the Shannan zone, 47 in the Lingzhi zone, and 47 in the Changdu zone. 

Besides the large physical infrastructure, other sectors like health, education, industry, and environmental protection in Xizang have been handed over to the developed and prosperous provinces, municipalities, departments, bureaus, and industries under the central government. The central government has assigned 17 provinces and municipalities, 77 public firms under the central government, and 27 financial firms and industries for the development of different parts and sectors of Xizang. Handing over responsibility to the developed provinces and municipalities to oversee the development of certain areas is expected to generate magical impact in taking Xizang on the path of further modernisation and prosperity. Nepal as an immediate neighbour should be able to take benefit from Xizang’s phenomenal growth. 

西藏是中國(guó)的一個(gè)自治區(qū)，近年來(lái)取得了顯著的進(jìn)步。過(guò)去十年，西藏的發(fā)展比過(guò)去五十年的總和更為顯著。基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施、工業(yè)增長(zhǎng)、人類(lèi)發(fā)展、經(jīng)濟(jì)擴(kuò)張、文化保護(hù)和旅游推廣等各個(gè)領(lǐng)域都取得了顯著進(jìn)步。

2012年，中國(guó)國(guó)家主席習(xí)近平提出以人民為中心的發(fā)展思想，提出了實(shí)現(xiàn)中華民族偉大復(fù)興的戰(zhàn)略愿景。習(xí)近平主席希望西藏能夠和全國(guó)人民一起實(shí)現(xiàn)小康，走上現(xiàn)代化道路。經(jīng)過(guò)十年的發(fā)展，西藏見(jiàn)證了中華民族從站起來(lái)到強(qiáng)起來(lái)的偉大飛躍，現(xiàn)在正開(kāi)啟全面建設(shè)社會(huì)主義現(xiàn)代化國(guó)家的新征程。

新發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略

西藏的地理?xiàng)l件非常具有挑戰(zhàn)性。它位于海拔3500米處，360萬(wàn)人口分布在123萬(wàn)平方公里的土地上。經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展始于中國(guó)東部開(kāi)發(fā)之后不久。中國(guó)政府特別重視新的發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略、基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)、特色產(chǎn)業(yè)發(fā)展、區(qū)域發(fā)展、農(nóng)村發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略、改革開(kāi)放政策和城鎮(zhèn)化戰(zhàn)略。由于這些具有發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略的總體規(guī)劃和計(jì)劃，西藏近年來(lái)經(jīng)濟(jì)迅速發(fā)展。2023年，該地區(qū)在主要經(jīng)濟(jì)指標(biāo)的增長(zhǎng)率方面領(lǐng)先全國(guó)。2023年，西藏的國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值（GDP）增長(zhǎng)率達(dá)到9.5%，而全國(guó)增長(zhǎng)率為5.2%。

人均國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值突破６萬(wàn)元，城鎮(zhèn)居民人均可支配收入分別增長(zhǎng)6.5%和10%。全區(qū)固定資產(chǎn)投資增長(zhǎng)30%，其中基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施投資增長(zhǎng)34.8%，民生領(lǐng)域投資增長(zhǎng)31.8%。社會(huì)消費(fèi)品零售總額增長(zhǎng)22%，對(duì)外貿(mào)易同比增長(zhǎng)130%。西藏旅游業(yè)創(chuàng)歷史新高，接待游客突破5500萬(wàn)人次，旅游收入突破650億元。

鐵路軌道從2012年的521公里增加到2022年的1359公里，成為世界上海拔最高的鐵路。同樣，公路總長(zhǎng)度從65198公里增加到121447公里。機(jī)場(chǎng)數(shù)量從5個(gè)增加到7個(gè)，移動(dòng)塔數(shù)量從7000個(gè)增加到61900個(gè)。同樣，人均預(yù)期壽命從2012年的68.17歲增加到72.19歲。城市就業(yè)人數(shù)從25000人增加到51000人。每千人醫(yī)療保健人員數(shù)量從3.67人增加到7.17人。各年齡段免費(fèi)教育計(jì)劃受益人口比例從80.05%增加到97.73%。

與周邊地區(qū)和國(guó)家的交流合作不斷加強(qiáng)。吉隆口岸升級(jí)為國(guó)際公路口岸，實(shí)現(xiàn)中尼雙邊開(kāi)放。2022年，西藏外貿(mào)進(jìn)出口總值46億元，貿(mào)易伙伴覆蓋95個(gè)國(guó)家和地區(qū)。西藏發(fā)展論壇、西藏智庫(kù)國(guó)際研討會(huì)、西藏旅游文化博覽會(huì)、環(huán)喜馬拉雅國(guó)際自行車(chē)極限賽等活動(dòng)成為促進(jìn)西藏與世界各國(guó)交流互鑒、合作的重要平臺(tái)。

近日，在西藏旅游文化博覽會(huì)上，尼泊爾、巴基斯坦、斯里蘭卡、伊朗、阿富汗、蒙古、日本等國(guó)的代表和企業(yè)家參加了此次活動(dòng)。與會(huì)者親身體驗(yàn)了西藏的發(fā)展，強(qiáng)調(diào)了中國(guó)政府在實(shí)施西藏發(fā)展特殊政策方面發(fā)揮的作用。此次活動(dòng)還深入了解了西藏未來(lái)的發(fā)展規(guī)劃，為投資和合作創(chuàng)造了機(jī)會(huì)。

中國(guó)政府在西藏基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)方面投入了大量資金，其中“十一五”期間（2006—2010年）投資782億元人民幣，“十二五”期間（2011—2015年）投資3.16萬(wàn)億元人民幣。2021年啟動(dòng)的“十四五”期間，西藏共包括151個(gè)經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)發(fā)展項(xiàng)目，總預(yù)算為6.015萬(wàn)億元人民幣。這些項(xiàng)目包括22個(gè)邊疆建設(shè)項(xiàng)目、45個(gè)改善民生項(xiàng)目、48個(gè)基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)項(xiàng)目、14個(gè)環(huán)境保護(hù)項(xiàng)目、8個(gè)政治和社會(huì)管理能力建設(shè)項(xiàng)目以及14個(gè)特色產(chǎn)業(yè)發(fā)展項(xiàng)目。

神奇的影響

此外，西藏自治區(qū)共提出投資5000萬(wàn)元以上的項(xiàng)目393個(gè)，分布在7個(gè)片區(qū)，涉及文化旅游、綠化、特色農(nóng)牧業(yè)、現(xiàn)代服務(wù)業(yè)、清潔能源、跨境商貿(mào)交通、現(xiàn)代數(shù)字產(chǎn)業(yè)、藏藥醫(yī)藥等產(chǎn)業(yè)。其中，阿里片區(qū)5個(gè)，那曲片區(qū)15個(gè)，日喀則片區(qū)46個(gè)，首府拉薩片區(qū)191個(gè)，山南片區(qū)42個(gè)，林芝片區(qū)47個(gè)，昌都片區(qū)47個(gè)。

除了大型基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)外，西藏的衛(wèi)生、教育、工業(yè)和環(huán)境保護(hù)等其他領(lǐng)域也已移交給中央政府下屬的發(fā)達(dá)和繁榮的省、市、部門(mén)、局和行業(yè)。中央政府已指派17個(gè)省和直轄市、77家中央政府下屬公共企業(yè)和27家金融公司和行業(yè)負(fù)責(zé)西藏不同地區(qū)和行業(yè)的發(fā)展。將責(zé)任移交給發(fā)達(dá)的省和直轄市來(lái)監(jiān)督某些地區(qū)的發(fā)展，預(yù)計(jì)將對(duì)西藏進(jìn)一步走向現(xiàn)代化和繁榮產(chǎn)生神奇的影響。尼泊爾作為近鄰，應(yīng)該能夠從西藏驚人的發(fā)展中受益。

（來(lái)源：《新興尼泊爾報(bào)》，譯文來(lái)源為南亞網(wǎng)絡(luò)電視，作者薩爾波塔姆·什雷斯塔為尼泊爾阿尼哥協(xié)會(huì)第一副主席）