On my way to Nepal to assume office, I spent two days in Lhasa, and got deeply impressed by this beautiful city located on the roof of the world. Lhasa is often compared to a bright pearl shining with dazzling brilliance on the snow-covered plateau. The bustling streets, the continuous flow of automobiles and the smiling folks reveal a new Tibet with prosperity and vibrancy. The magnificent Potala Palace demonstrates that Tibetan ethnic culture still maintains vigor and vitality after a thousand years. The stunning golden Jokhang Temple and the endless stream of pilgrims show that religious beliefs are fully respected and protected in Tibet.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. On May 23, 1951, the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet was signed between the central people´s government and the former local government of Tibet, declaring the peaceful liberation of Tibet. From then on, Tibet entered a new era of development. Over the past 60 years, under the leadership of the central people´s government, with the support from the people of all ethnic groups in China, and through the hard work of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region, Tibet has fulfilled two historic leaps from a society of feudal serfdom to one of socialism, and from a state of isolation, poverty and backwardness to one of opening, prosperity and civilization, scoring historic achievements in various undertakings that caught world attention.

Firstly, people of all ethnic groups have become the masters of their own fate. Before the peaceful liberation, Tibet practiced a system of feudal serfdom under theocracy, which had existed for over 700 years. The three major estate-holders that were officials, nobles and upper-ranking monks in monasteries, acted in collusion to oppress and exploit the serfs. Masses of serfs had no means of production, nor freedom of their own, nor political rights. Since the peaceful liberation, Tibet has abolished the theocratic feudal serfdom, implemented regional ethnic autonomy, and established the people’s democratic system of socialism. The former serfs and slaves have become the masters of the country and society, enjoyed equal rights to participate in the administration of state affairs and that of regional and ethnic affairs. Now, cadres of the Tibetan and other ethnic minorities account for over 70 percent of the body of cadres in Tibet, and constitute the backbone of construction of Tibet.

Secondly, the leapfrog developments of economy and the local people’s lives have been achieved. Before the peaceful liberation, the economy in Tibet was in a state of stagnation, and the masses lived in dire poverty. Since 60 years ago, the economy has leaped forward with each passing day. In 2010, the local GDP reached 50 billion yuan, a nearly 112-fold increase of the figure in 1951. Tibet has set up a complete range of industrial system with distinctive local features, a comprehensive transportation network with highway, rail, air and pipeline transportation, and a modern telecommunications network with cables, satellites and the internet.

Before the liberation, more than 90 percent of the people in Tibet had no private housing, nor had they enough food and clothing. But over the past 60 years, the Tibetan people´s living conditions have constantly improved. In 2010, the per-capita net income of farmers and herdsmen was over 4,100 yuan, while the per-capita disposable income of urban dwellers stood at nearly 15,000 yuan. People now have access to refrigerators, color TVs, computers, washing machines, motorcycles and cars. Since 2006, with the commencement of construction of a new socialist countryside and comfortable housing project, nearly 275,000 households, comprising over 1.4 million farmers and herdsmen, have moved into modern houses. The aim of providing farmers and herdsmen living in poor conditions with comfortable houses has been realized.

Thirdly, the undertakings of education and public health have made comprehensive progress. In old Tibet there was not a single school in the modern sense. Education was monopolized by monasteries, and there were only a limited number of schools run by monks and officials. Almost all students in such schools were children of the nobility. The serfs and slaves, accounting for more than 95 percent of the population, had been robbed off the right of receiving education. The illiteracy rate was as high as 95 percent among the young and the middle-aged. Now, Tibet has established a modern educational system ranging from infant education to higher education including vocational, technical, adult, special education. The illiteracy rate among the young and the middle-aged has fallen to 1.2 percent.

Before the liberation, there were only three small, shabby government-run institutions of Tibetan medicine and a small number of private clinics, with less than 100 medical workers altogether. By the end of 2010 there were over 1,350 medical institutions of all types and at all levels in Tibet, with nearly 10,000 medical workers. A healthcare system in farming and pastoral areas and a medical and healthcare network covering all counties and townships have been established, with funds from the government comprising the major part. According to the sixth national census, the total population of Tibet increased from one million before the peaceful liberation to 3.0022 million, of whom 2.7164 million or 90.48 percent were Tibetans.

Fourthly, traditional culture and religious freedom have received protection and respect. The central and regional governments always attach great importance to carrying on, protecting and developing the excellent traditional culture of the Tibetan ethnic group. The study, use and development of the Tibetan language are protected by law. The state has altogether apportioned 1.45 billion yuan to maintain and repair the Potala Palace, the Norbulingka and Sakya Monastery, and other cultural relics and historical sites. Tibet´s distinctive cultural items such as folk handicrafts, folk art and Tibetan opera have been listed among items of state-level intangible cultural heritage.

All religions, all religious sects are equal in Tibet. The Living Buddha reincarnation system, unique to Tibetan Buddhism, is fully respected. People are free to carry out traditional religious activities in temples. Tibet now has more than 1,700 venues for religious activities, and about 46,000 monks and nuns. Monks and laymen organize and take part in religious and traditional activities every year. More than one million worshipers make pilgrimage to Lhasa each year.

Fifthly, ecological conservation and environmental protection have been strengthened in an all-round way. In old Tibet macro-ecological conservation or comprehensive environmental protection was out of the question. Over the 60 years, the central and regional governments have plowed in large amounts of funds, manpower and materials as well as published many regulations, regulatory documents and administrative rules in an endeavor to protect ecology and environment. Tibet tops any other part in China with its conservation areas accounting for 34.5 percent of the total land area. According to the latest report on the state of the environment of China, generally speaking, there is no pollution of the atmosphere or water in Tibet. The region is one of the areas with the best environmental quality in the world.

The plateau sees in its glory after 60 years and the snow-covered land opens a new page of development. 60 years are just a fleeting moment in the history of mankind. But the past 60 years have witnessed earth-shaking changes and profound development in Tibet that would normally need a millennium. Today, Tibet stands at a new historical starting point. People of all ethnic groups in Tibet will stay united and work in an enterprising spirit to ensure leapfrog economic and social development, uphold lasting peace and stability, build a moderately prosperous society in all respects in Tibet. We have every reason to believe that the Tibet Autonomous Region will have a better and more harmonious future.

The writer is Chinese Ambassador to Nepal