An investment promotion event for Tibet autonomous region was held in Qingdao, Shandong province on Sept 28 to facilitate cooperation with the region, with a series of strategic cooperation agreements signed on site.

In addition, the launch ceremony of an original music brand jointly built by Qingdao and Tibet autonomous region kicked off in the coastal city.

Since Qingdao began providing aid to Tibet in 1995, the city has invested about 1.3 billion yuan ($200.99 million) and carried out more than 1,000 projects of various kinds. The city also selected and dispatched a number of renowned officials and technical personnel to assist the region, said a Qingdao official, adding that the city will further deepen industrial assistance, personnel exchanges, as well as cooperation mechanisms with Tibet.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Over the last seven decades, the central government has introduced many favorable policies for the region, covering tax and finance, infrastructure, industrial development, education, health, cultural preservation, environmental protection, as well as other fields.

The central government has increased its fiscal transfer to Tibet every year. It has also planned and carried out a number of major projects at different stages that have a bearing on the long-term development of the region, as well as the living standard of its residents.

As a result, local residents in Tibet enjoy much better working and living conditions, with their sense of gain, happiness, and security growing.

In 1951, Tibet's GDP was only 129 million yuan. In 2020, its GDP exceeded 190 billion yuan. There has been substantial economic growth and significant improvements to the region’s economic structure. In 2020, Tibet's retail sales of consumer goods reached 74.6 billion yuan, more than 2,000 times larger than in 1959.

An investment promotion event for Tibet autonomous region is held in Qingdao, Shandong province on Sept 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao and Tibet autonomous region launch an original music performance on Sept 28 in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Dancers from Tibet autonomous region perform wearing their traditional costumes at the launch ceremony of an original music brand jointly built by Qingdao and Tibet. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An artist from Tibet performs at the original music performance on Sept 28 in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Traditional Tibetan dance is staged on Sept 28 in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]