Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

Some Western media outlets and organizations never get tired of smearing the human rights situation in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Recently, they're again spreading such disinformation, claiming that China's measures aimed at economic growth "harm the way of life and ecoculture of people in Xizang." 

Nevertheless, the tangible progress in Xizang's development serves as a powerful rebuttal to these baseless Western lies.

Over the years, Xizang has seen continued and sound economic growth, social harmony and stability, the sound preservation of its cultural heritage, and significantly better lives for its people. These facts have the wholehearted recognition of people of all ethnic groups in Xizang and are acknowledged by many in the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Xizang's economic and social development has benefited from the long-term support of the central government and the support and assistance from people across the country. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the program of national pairing assistance to Xizang. 

Over the past three decades, the central government has continuously stepped up support for Xizang, implementing assistance projects to help the region improve its infrastructure, which has contributed to vigorous and diversified industrial development in the region. 

In 2023, Xizang's GDP reached 239.27 billion yuan ($33.74 billion), an increase of 9.5 percent year-on-year. The growth rate ranked first in the country, according to the Xizang Daily. 

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Xizang's GDP has risen from 190 billion yuan to nearly 240 billion yuan last year. Additionally, its per capita GDP has risen from 52,300 yuan to 60,000 yuan, Chinese media reports said.

Over the years, infrastructure construction has provided a solid foundation for Xizang's industrial development. In particular, with the improvement of transportation networks, the cultural and tourism industries have become important pillars of Xizang's economy, with tourism revenue reaching a record high of 65 billion yuan in 2023.

In the clean energy field, Xizang has also made notable achievements. The region is rich in hydro, wind and solar energy. Its installed power capacity, including some under construction, is 24.14 million kilowatts, with clean energy accounting for more than 95 percent of the total, according to State Grid.

Xizang has also actively seized the "digital opportunity" to accelerate the deployment of new infrastructure, such as 5G, green data centers, the Internet of Things and the industrial internet. So far, 10,067 5G base stations have been built and 5G network coverage has been extended to all counties/districts and main towns/townships in the region. 

These milestones represent the potential for the future development of the digital economy. In 2023, the added value of Xizang's digital economy reached 25.1 billion yuan, up 19.3 percent year-on-year.

These numbers show that Xizang's economic and social development trends follow a sustainable path, laying a solid foundation for Xizang's long-term stability and prosperity. 

It also demonstrates that the guidelines of the Communist Party of China for governing Xizang are correct, in line with our national conditions and the fundamental interests of the people in Xizang.

Xizang's development is an important part of the Chinese development story. It exemplifies how the Chinese government, while promoting economic development, can effectively protect the natural environment and cultural heritage, improve living standards, and maintain social harmony and stability. We welcome more foreigners to visit Xizang to gain first-hand experience of the region and its development. 

In the face of Xizang's development, Western lies are falling apart. Xizang's development achievements are the most powerful response to those who seek to undermine China's stability and development by distorting facts.