Gama Cedain:

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very pleased to witness the release of the white paper "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era" with you all. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and the People's Government of Xizang Autonomous Region and its 3.7 million people of all ethnic groups, to extend a warm welcome to everyone, and express my utmost respect to all friends and people from all walks of life for their care, support and great contributions to the development of Xizang.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region, and today marks the anniversary of the democratic reform that ended feudal serfdom in Xizang. Sixty-six years ago, Xizang launched the democratic reform, freeing a million serfs, writing a glorious chapter in the history of human rights. Looking back at the progress made in human rights over the past six decades, and especially since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, we have consistently adhered to the leadership of the CPC, which has provided a fundamental guarantee for the long-term stability and high-quality development of the region. Since the peaceful liberation of Xizang, successive central collective leaderships have attached great importance to the work related to Xizang. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made respecting and protecting human rights an important part of the governance of China, vigorously promoting the high-quality development of various undertakings in the region.

The CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region have thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on the work related to Xizang and the Party's guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era. Focusing on the four major tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment and strengthening the borders, we have united and led the people of all ethnic groups in the region to create a national model area for ethnic unity, a leading area for high-quality development of the plateau economy, a national eco-civilization model, and a demonstration zone for strengthening national border and enriching the people. The sense of gain, happiness and security of people of all ethnic groups have been improved.

We have always adhered to a people-centered development approach, achieving historic accomplishments in the rights to subsistence and development of all ethnic groups. Absolute poverty has been historically eradicated. All 74 impoverished counties (districts, cities) have been lifted out of poverty, and all 628,000 registered impoverished people have been lifted out of poverty. People's livelihoods have significantly improved, with the total economic output growing from 70.103 billion yuan in 2012 to 276.494 billion yuan in 2024. The per capita disposable incomes of urban and rural residents have increased from 18,028 yuan and 5,719 yuan to 55,444 yuan and 21,578 yuan, respectively, with the growth rate ranking among the top in the country for 10 consecutive years. The right to life and to health have been effectively ensured. The population has grown to 3.7 million, with average life expectancy rising significantly. The numbers of hospital beds, healthcare professionals and practicing physicians per 1,000 people have increased to 5.9, 8.05, and 3.34, respectively. The rights of specific groups have been equally protected. The maternal and infant mortality rates have dropped to 38.63 per 100,000 and 5.37 per thousand, respectively. The region has 128 elderly care institutions, benefiting 12,971 elderly people. The enrollment rate for compulsory education among school-age children with disabilities has reached 97.15%, and 21,010 registered persons with disabilities have secured employment.

We have always strived to fulfill four main tasks in the region: benefit ethnic unity and progress, safeguard national unity and oppose separatism, improve people's lives and build social consensus, and give people in Xizang a greater sense of gain, fulfillment and security. As a result, comprehensive progress has been achieved in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in the region. Infrastructure has been constantly improved. Fuxing high-speed trains run across the snowy plateau; the Lhasa-Shigatse Expressway has entered full operation; a "supercharging green corridor" has been built on the Sichuan-Xizang section of the G318 National Highway; the number of air routes has reached 169; four power grids have been built and put into use; and safe drinking water has been made available in rural areas. Education has been made a priority. A 15-year publicly funded education system from kindergarten to high school has been established. Sports-for-all is flourishing. The per capita sports venue area has reached 1.95 square meters. In 2024, we achieved a record 55 gold, 44 silver and 66 bronze medals in domestic and international sports events. Cultural projects benefit the people and improve their well-being. A total of 5,492 performing teams have been established at the administrative village and urban community level. Excellent traditional culture has been effectively inherited, protected and utilized. The study and use of the Tibetan language has been protected by the law.

We have always regarded eco-environmental protection on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau as a major task that benefits our future generations and the entire world. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has achieved overall carbon neutrality. We have taken a holistic and systematic approach to the conservation and improvement of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands and deserts, and promulgated the Regulations on Developing National Eco-Civilization Model in the Xizang Autonomous Region. More than 50% of the region's total land area has been listed under ecological conservation redline protection, and 36% of the region's territory has been designated as nature reserves. The annual proportion of days with excellent or good air quality in key cities and towns reached over 99%. Green and low-carbon development has created new drivers and released new dividends for the region's growth. The installed power capacity reached 9.52 million kilowatts, and clean energy generation reached 19.04 billion kilowatt-hours. The people of all ethnic groups have become voluntary protectors of lucid waters and lush mountains, while directly benefiting from these invaluable assets.

We have made sustained efforts to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, with people's political rights and civil rights fully developed. The people of all ethnic groups in Xizang have become masters of their own destiny and the region and fully enjoy the rights endowed by the Constitution and the laws. Among the deputies from the Xizang autonomous region delegation to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), 68% were from ethnic minority groups; and among the deputies to people's congresses in the region, 89.2% are from ethnic minority groups. Freedom of religious belief is safeguarded in accordance with the law. In Xizang, all religions and sects are equal, as are all believers and non-believers. Every effort is made to meet the normal religious needs of believers. All registered monks and nuns are fully covered by social security and health checks. Ethnic equality and unity are increasingly consolidated. We formulated and implemented regulations and plans for the establishment of model areas to promote ethnic unity and progress. At present, seven prefectures (prefecture-level cities), 30 counties (districts, cities), and 54 entities have been designated as national demonstration units for ethnic unity and progress.

We have resolutely safeguarded China's sovereignty, security and development interests. We have explicitly fought against separatist activities, strengthened and innovated social governance, as well as continued efforts in creating a lawful and peaceful society. The sense of security and satisfaction of the people of all ethnic groups in Xizang ranks among the top in the country. After a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Dingri county this year, we responded promptly and provided the affected people with tents, prefabricated houses, hot meals and warm butter tea as soon as possible, effectively protecting their human rights, thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the selfless assistance of the people across the country.

Human rights protection is always ongoing and will never end. Next, under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we will continue to meet the new expectations of the people in Xizang for better lives, and work together to write a new chapter in human rights protection within the warm embrace of the big family of the socialist motherland.

On behalf of the Party committee and the government of the Xizang autonomous region, I would like to take the opportunity of this press conference to sincerely invite all of you to visit Xizang, to appreciate the region's beautiful nature and culture, and to experience its new progress in socialist modernization. I sincerely wish you all good health and every success. Tashi delek.

That's all for my introduction. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before asking your questions.