Tibet's economic growth exceeds 12 percent

Tibet has achieved double-digit economic growth for 20 consecutive years, with an estimated regional GDP of more than 80 billion yuan ($13 billion) and a 12.5-percent annual increase achieved in 2013, the regional government said Tuesday.

"Tibet has achieved a cumulated fixed asset investment of nearly 91 billion yuan with an increase of 28 percent over the year. The total retail sales volume of social consumables was nearly 29 billion yuan, an increase of 16 percent," said Chen Quanguo, Party chief of the Tibet autonomous region.

The disposable income of urban residents averaged 20,192 yuan, which is an increase of 11 percent, and the income of rural residents averaged 6,520 yuan, an annual increase rate of 14 percent in 2013, Chen said.

With continuous optimization of industrial structure, the added value of Tibet's primary industry was 8.6 billion yuan, increasing 3.4 percent year-on-year; it's secondary industry was 29 billion yuan, an increases of 18.9 percent; and its tertiary industry was 43 billion yuan, up 10.6 percent, Chen said.

"Over the last year, the region put great efforts into its infrastructure construction, with 188 of 226 projects of the 12th Five-Year period (2011-15) in completed, with 108 billion yuan in place.

"The construction of Lhasa-Xigaze Railway is completed, and a new road built in Tibet's Medog county, ending the county's status as the only one in China inaccessible by road".

The construction of the Lhasa-Nyingchi highway has also begun and the Najin Bridge is completed and open to traffic. Altogether 29 cities are linked with airlines, and the airlines servicing the region have increased to 48, according to official statistics.

"The renovation of the 1,300-year-old Barkhor Street was fully completed and Lhasa city achieved full heating coverage," Chen said.