Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Center on March 30, 2009 published a Report on the Economic and Social Development of Tibet. The contents include Foreword, Growth and Change: Basis of Development, Human Development: Goal of Economic Development, Sustainable Development: Development Rooted in Environmental Protection and Green Industry, Government and Market: Encouragement and Promotion for Development, Difficulties and Challenges: Obstacles to Development and Conclusion: Prospects for Growth and Development

Foreword

Economic development in its conventional sense is defined as a unification process of the growth of social wealth, optimization of industrial structure, improvement of people's ability to create wealth, and other factors. Economic development in its modern sense emphasizes human, fair, coordinated and sustainable development as well as GDP growth.

I. Growth and Change: Basis of Development

Economic development is a process of creating and accumulating wealth. In economics, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a core indicator measuring the degree to which a country or region creates and accumulates wealth. It is also widely used to measure a country's or region's economic growth, or even the level of social development. 1. Growth of Economic Aggregate and Stimulation of Investment

II. Human Development: Goal of Economic Development

Development, a multidimensional concept, is commonly understood as the development of the economy, an integral process of economic growth and the transition of the growth pattern. But the meaning does not end there. The word has also become recognized as the development of human beings. Economic development promotes the accumulation of social wealth, providing the necessary conditions and basic materials for human development. Human development, which improves the fundamental qualities of people and increases opportunities, is the ultimate goal of economic development.

III. Sustainable Development: Development Rooted in Environmental Protection and Green Industry

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In other words, it refers to the harmonious development of economy, society, resources and environmental protection, which compose an inseparable system. We should achieve the goal of economic growth while protecting the natural resources and environment, including the atmosphere, freshwater, sea, land and forests...

IV. Government and Market: Encouragement and Promotion for Development

The evolution of history has proved that building and perfecting the market and its system can optimize the distribution of essential factors of production and promote the flow of manpower, merchandise, capital and services, in order to achieve a better division of specialized labor, update concepts and boost economic development. While stressing the market's fundamental role in development, we should also recognize that the government should play the role of a night watcher to maintain order, property rights and social stability...

V. Difficulties and Challenges: Obstacles to Development

The year 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the democratic reform in Tibet. Over the past half a century, after the stagnation before the democratic reform, Tibet has successively experienced steady growth under a planned economy and rapid development since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in 1984. Although the Tibet Autonomous Region has obtained worldwide recognition for its economic, human and sustainable development, the region still faces many difficulties and challenges due to historical, geographical and social factors.

VI. Conclusion: Prospects for Growth and Development

Although Tibet's social and economic development was affected by the March 14 Incident in 2008, the incident was quickly quashed, and Tibet's economic development has maintained a strong momentum. On-the-spot surveys and relevant statistics show that the impact of the March 14 Incident on most industries in Tibet was limited, except for temporary difficulties for tourism. The total grain output of Tibet in 2008 reached 950,000 tons, an increase of more than 10,000 tons over the previous year and topping 900,000 tons for ten years running.