A view of an ongoing import fair in Gakyiling Plaza Shopping Mall in Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY

Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region, achieved a historic economic milestone in 2025, with its GDP hitting 109 billion yuan ($15.7 billion).

"This not only marks the emergence of Xizang's first city with a GDP exceeding 100 billion yuan, but also signifies that the GDP of all provincial capital cities in China has surpassed 100 billion yuan, completing the final key piece of the nation's economic map," Wang Qiang, mayor of Lhasa, was quoted as saying by Xizang Daily while attending the just-concluded annual session of the regional people's congress.

Data show that by end-2025, Lhasa is projected to have achieved over 5 percent growth in fixed asset investment, with total retail sales of consumer goods reaching 55.3 billion yuan, and total import and export volume standing at 5.5 billion yuan.

The city is expected to have welcomed 50.51 million tourists and generated 60.6 billion yuan in tourism revenue, representing year-on-year growth of 16.8 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively.

Additionally, 61 new high-tech enterprises and 11 new sizable industrial enterprises are likely to have been added.

Chen Pu, director of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences' economic strategy research institute, said that from a regional perspective, Lhasa accounts for 36 percent of Xizang's total economic output, serving as a vital pillar of the region's economy.

"On a national scale, the new economic leap driven by Lhasa has laid a solid foundation for Xizang to become an important gateway for better opening up to South Asia and integrating into the nation's new development framework," said Chen.

Kelsang Drolma, who studies Xizang's economy and society at the China Tibetology Research Center, said Lhasa's GDP surpassing 100 billion yuan for the first time highlights the correctness of the government's strategy on governing Xizang.

"This achievement reflects Xizang's development closely aligning with the progress of the nation and its people, advancing in step with the growth trajectories of other provinces and cities."

Lhasa's GDP also accounts for a significant proportion of the region's total, embodying what is often referred to as a high primacy ratio, she said.

As a regional capital, Lhasa has benefited, first, from its rich resources, and second, from favorable policies, which it has effectively utilized for development, she said, adding that substantial investments in innovative technologies have played an important role as well.

"At the same time, Lhasa has been deepening reforms and expanding development efforts, making it a model for the entire region while playing a leading and exemplary role."