(ECNS) -- The economy of Xizang Autonomous Region grew at the fastest pace in China during the first half of 2025, with gross domestic product rising 7.2% year-on-year to 138.27 billion yuan (about $19.27 billion), according to official data released this week.
This growth rate is 1.9 percentage points higher than the national average, placing Xizang among the top regions in China for economic growth over consecutive quarters.
The autonomous region's vast territory and sparse population pose objective geographical challenges to economic development. Yet Xizang continues to lead the nation in growth, driven largely by rising industrial output and robust investment.
Despite its vast territory and sparse population, Xizang continues to lead national growth, powered by surging industrial output and rising investment. In the first half of 2025, industrial added value from large firms rose 14.8% year-on-year, 8.4 percentage points higher than the national average, according to the regional statistics bureau.
The region reported 557 major projects under construction, each with a planned investment of 100 million yuan or more, accounting for 72.8% of total investment — up 45.4% year-on-year.
Recently, 16 central state-owned enterprises signed 75 project agreements with Xizang with a total investment of 317.537 billion yuan.
In addition, construction has begun on the Yarlung Zangbo hydropower project, which has a total planned investment of around 1.2 trillion yuan, marking a new wave of development opportunities for the region.
The cultural and tourism economy has become a key driver of growth, too. In the first half of 2025, Xizang received 32.18 million tourist visits, generating a total revenue of 31.552 billion yuan, increasing 11.7% and 10.2%, respectively.
Government policy support and improved infrastructure have been critical to Xizang's development. Fuxing high-speed trains now run across the plateau, the Lhasa-Rikaze expressway is fully operational, and new supercharger stations have been installed along the Sichuan-Xizang highway. With 183 air routes connecting 78 cities, logistics costs have dropped, paving the way for further industrial growth.
The year 2025 marks the 60th founding anniversary of the Xizang Autonomous Region. From 1965 to 2024, its regional GDP has grown from 327 million yuan to 276.494 billion yuan.
This remarkable macro-level economic growth is reflected in the everyday lives of local families.
All townships and villages are now accessible by road; the long-standing issue of electricity shortages has been fundamentally resolved; all administrative villages have access to fiber-optic and 4G networks; boarding services in schools have addressed educational access for students in remote areas; average life expectancy has risen to 72.5 years.
Xizang's continued lead in national economic growth highlights the region's immense potential for further socio-economic development.
With accelerated infrastructure development, steady industrial growth, and strong policy support, Xizang's economy is set to continue making great strides on the path of high-quality development.
(By Gong Weiwei)
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