In 2007, under the leadership of the CPC Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region, people of all nationalities of the region, taking as guidance the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," implemented the scientific outlook on development, and adhered to the guiding working principle of the region in the new era, to build a moderately-prosperous, peaceful and harmonious Tibet. By implementing the economic development strategy of promoting the production level of the primary industry, attaching importance to key sectors of the secondary industry, and vigorously developing the tertiary industry, the economy of Tibet Autonomous Region has witnessed rapid and sound development. Social projects with focus put on people's livelihood have made all-round progress. The income of rural and urban residents and the quality of their lives have also significantly improved.

I. General Outlook

In 2007, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Tibet Autonomous Region amounted to 34.22 billion yuan, representing a growth rate of 14 percent over the previous year. Analyzed by different industries, the added value of the primary industry stood at 5.53 billion yuan, up by 4.3 percent; that of the secondary industry was 9.66 billion yuan, up by 15.9 percent and the tertiary industry was 19.03 billion yuan, up by 16.2 percent. The per-capita GDP was 12,109 yuan, up by 12.6 percent.

The added value from the primary industry accounted for 16.2 percent of the GDP, down by 1.3 percentage points over the previous year; that of the secondary industry accounted for 28.2 percent, up by 0.7 percentage points, and that of the tertiary industry accounted for 55.6 percent, up by 0.6 percentage points.

The consumer price index (CPI) in the region went up by 3.4 percent compared with one year earlier. Of this total, the CPI in urban and rural areas went up by 2.9 percent and 4.2 percent respectively. Prices of services climbed by 3.7 percent and prices of consumer products went up by 3.3 percent. Of the consumer products, tobacco and alcohol, clothing, housing, and food registered fast paces of price growth, up by 2.5 percent, 2.0 percent, 7.1 percent and 6.6 percent respectively. Other prices went up or down slightly. Retail prices rose by 1.7 percent, the prices for means of agricultural production increased by 1.1 percent, and producer prices index (PPI) rose by 1.1 percent.

At the end of 2007, the total employment of the region numbered 1.57 million, 86,600 more than that at the end of 2006. The urban unemployment rate of the region through employment registration was 4.3 percent at the end of 2007.

II. Agriculture

In 2007, the sown area of grain in the region was 171,770 hectares, an increase of 110 hectares as compared with that in the previous year. Of this total, the sown area of highland barley was 40,290 hectares, an increase of 1,710 hectares and the sown area of wheat totaled 40,290 hectares, a decline of 1,200 hectares. Its sown area of rapeseed was 23,050 hectares, a decline of 1,000 hectares. Its sown area of vegetables was 19,660 hectares, an increase of 670 hectares. The total output of grain in 2007 was 938,600 tons, a growth of 1.6 percent over the previous year. Its total output of rapeseed was 52,300 tons, a drop of 4 percent and its total output of vegetable was 450,600 tons, an increase of 0.3 percent.

At the end of 2007, the total amount of livestock numbered 24.17 million, a drop of 210,000 over that of 2006. Of this total, the amount of cattle and yaks was 6.61 million, an increase of 100,000; the amount of sheep and goats was 16.75 million, a decline of 280,000. In 2007, its total output of pork, beef and mutton stood at 228,800 tons, a growth of 0.8 percent over one year earlier, and its output of milk stood at 289,400 tons, up by 4.8 percent.

In 2007, the total timber output was 356,800 cubic meters, an increase of 0.3 percent compared with the previous year.

III. Industry and Construction

In 2007, the total added value of the industrial sector was 2.57 billion yuan, an increase of 17.1 percent as compared with that in the previous year. The added value of industrial enterprises above the designated size amounted to 2.25 billion yuan, posting a growth rate of 17.6 percent. In 2007, the gross industrial output value of enterprises above the designated size added up to 4.14 billion yuan, reporting a yearly growth rate of 18.4 percent. Of this total, the gross output value of the light industry was 1.47 billion yuan, up by 18.7 percent, and that of the heavy industry was 2.67 billion yuan, up by 18.2 percent. Of the industrial enterprises above the designated size, the state-owned and state-holding enterprises realized a gross output value of 2.16 billion yuan, a rise of 12.6 percent in comparison with one year earlier. Analyzed by registration status, the gross output value of the state-owned enterprises added up to 1.38 billion yuan, a growth of 13.6 percent; that of the collective enterprises was 185 million yuan, a decline of 6.2 percent; that of the share-holding enterprises went up by 31 percent to 1.75 billion yuan; that of joint-stock cooperative enterprises was 68 million yuan, down by 28.5 percent; that of the enterprises by foreign investors and investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan soared by 41.4 percent to 398 million yuan; and that of other ownership enterprises rose 1 percent to 358 million yuan.