Monks participate in the final Dharma debating exam for the Geshe Lharampa degree at Jokhang Temple, Lhasa in April, 2021.  (DAQIONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

The chairman of the Xizang autonomous region, also known as the Tibet autonomous region, on Friday urged people not to be fooled by fake news about the region but rather to come see it for themselves.

"Many foreign visitors said that what they saw and heard in Xizang are totally different from what they've learnt from the news in their own countries. I welcome people to visit the region so they can tell the world what Xizang is really like in different aspects, objectively," Yan Jinhai, chairman of the Xizang autonomous region.

READ MORE: White paper: Xizang witnesses unprecedented development

He made the remarks after the State Council Information Office released a white paper on the policies of the Communist Party of China on the governance of Xizang in the new era.

Eradicating absolute poverty in a high plateau area with harsh environment is extremely difficult, but Xizang has achieved the goal.

Yan Jinhai, Chairman, Xizang autonomous region

The white paper, titled "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements", highlighted how the CPC's guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era have brought about all-round progress and historic success in various undertakings in the region. 

Yan highlighted the achievements on poverty alleviation. "Eradicating absolute poverty in a high plateau area with harsh environment is extremely difficult, but Xizang has achieved the goal."

According to the White Paper, by the end of 2019, through the basic strategy of targeted poverty alleviation, the region had lifted 628,000 registered poor residents and 74 counties and districts out of poverty. This represented a victory in the war against extreme poverty that had plagued Xizang for thousands of years.

Also, the growth rate of the average annual disposable income of Xizang residents has topped other provinces and regions in China for eight consecutive years, Yan added.

The White Paper also said that, following the CPC's guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era, significant progress has been made to stabilize the social environment, achieve rapid economic progress and strengthen the Party organization in Xizang, which has led to a better life for its people, cultural prosperity, sound ecological systems and secured borders.

Together with the rest of the country, people in Xizang have witnessed the tremendous transformation of the nation from standing up, becoming prosperous and growing in strength, and are now embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects, it added.

No political, group or violent terrorist incidents have occurred in the Xizang autonomous region for years, Yan said.

The safety and satisfaction index of people of all ethnic groups in the region has ranked among the highest in China, said Yan. 

The region is providing medical insurance, pension schemes, subsistence allowances, and accident injury insurance, and covering health check expenses for all registered monks and nuns in the region, said Yan.

FULL TEXT: CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era

This is a ground-breaking achievement in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, he said, adding that as a result, registered monks and nuns are now entitled to receive pensions for the first time.

Passengers get off the Tibet Airlines flight TV9850 at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, Dec 30, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The annual passenger throughput of civil aviation in the Xizang autonomous region is expected to surpass 6 million by the end of 2023, said the official.

Xizang will have seven airports, with 154 air routes connecting 70 cities by the end of 2023, he said.

According to the white paper, a comprehensive transport system has been developed and steadily improved in Xizang.

Yan said that the total road length in Xizang has exceeded 120,000 km and bullet trains have started their operation there.

'Forced vocational training' 

While responding to a media inquiry, Xu Zhitao, vice-chairman of the Xizang regional government, denounced the claim of so-called "forced vocational training" in the region, alleged by certain foreign institutions, as pure vilification.

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of people's right to work, he said.

Over recent years, the regional government of Xizang has implemented a proactive employment policy, ensured people's freedom to choose their own jobs, and boosted the employment of local farmers and herders through multiple channels, Xu added.

The vocational skills training system serves people above 16 years old who are seeking jobs and vocational training. The training plans take full account of their free choice and needs, according to Xu.

Xizang's enterprises are encouraged to employ local farmers and herders, and provide vocational training correspondingly, he said, adding that all these efforts are well received by employees and job seekers.