The white paper says that even in mid-20th century, Tibet was still extremely isolated and backward, almost without a trace of modern industry, commerce, science and technology, education, culture and health care. Primitive farming methods were still in practice. The grain yield was only four to 10 times the seeds sown.

The rigid hierarchy and savage political oppression, the fetters of religion brought by theocracy, and the imperialists' invasion had led to enormous deaths from hunger and cold, poverty and diseases among the serfs, which made over 95 percent of the whole population in Tibet 50 years ago. Crisis lurked on every side in Tibet.

On May 23, 1951 the "Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet", known as the "17-Article Agreement", was signed by the Central People's Government and the local governmentof Tibet, marking the realization of the peaceful liberation of Tibet and opening the way for Tibet to march toward modernization.

The white paper says in conforming to the interests of the Tibetan people, the Central People's Government not only worked actively to bring about Tibet's peaceful liberation, but also adopted key policies and measures for Tibet's Democratic Reform, regional autonomy, large-scale modernization, reform and opening-up. All this has contributed to changing the lot of Tibet and propelling Tibetan society in seven-league boots.

The modernization drive in Tibet has entered a new stage of rapid development with the strategic decision made by the Central People's Government to accord special attention to Tibet and get aid for Tibet from all the other parts of the country.