Tibet showcases achievements since autonomy (5)

LHASA, Sept. 7 -- An exhibition opened on Monday in the Tibet Autonomous Region on achievements of the Himalaya territory since its founding as an autonomous region in 1965.

A central government delegation led by top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng attended the exhibition in the Convention and Exhibition Center.

The exhibition shows economic, social and religious development in the past half century with pictures, historical documents and real artifacts.

Gross domestic product in Tibet soared from 327 million yuan (51.4 million U.S. dollars) in 1965 to almost 300 times more, 92 billion yuan in 2014.

Yu and his delegation are in Lhasa to attend various festivities marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the region. He will attend a celebration in front of the Potala Palace on Tuesday and will give gifts, including solar-powered TVs and electric blenders for making traditional buttered tea, to Tibetan households.

On Monday, Yu met with several incumbent and former Tibetan leaders and representatives of Tibetans.

Yu and other delegation members also watched Monday night a music and dance show to celebrate the 50th anniversary.