BEIJING - The Chinese government Monday published a white paper on the development of Tibet since 1951 to mark the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of the region.

The document, released by the State Council's Information Office, reviewed the history of Tibet, particularly the liberation in 1951, as well as profound political, social and economic changes that have taken place in Tibet over the past 60 years.

"Within six decades Tibet has achieved development that would normally call for a millennium. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, the people of Tibet have created a miracle," it reads.

"Only by adhering to the leadership of the CPC, the path of socialism, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the development mode with Chinese characteristics and Tibet's regional features, can Tibet enjoy lasting prosperity and a bright future," it adds.

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While stressing Tibet has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times, the white paper says the so-called  "Tibetan independence" is in fact "cooked up by old and new imperialists," and "was part of Western aggressors' scheme to carve up the territory of China."

On May 23, 1951, the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet was signed in Beijing, marking the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

In the 60 years since its peaceful liberation, Tibet has fulfilled two historic leaps "from a society of feudal serfdom to one of socialism, and from a state of isolation, poverty and backwardness to one of opening, prosperity and civilization," the white paper says.

In the period from 1952 to 2010, the central government channelled 300 billion yuan (46.4 billion U.S. dollars) to Tibet as financial subsidies, with an annual growth rate of 22.4 percent, according to the white paper.

Over the past 60 years the central government has allocated more than 160 billion yuan in direct investment to Tibet, it says.

The document says significant progress has also been made in protecting ethnic culture and ecological environment.

It says ecological conservation has been progressing rapidly, and environmental protection is being strengthened in an all-round way.

Ethnic culture in Tibet is enjoying unprecedented prosperity, and freedom of religious belief is respected and protected, it notes.

All religions and all religious sects are equal in Tibet. The Living Buddha reincarnation system, unique to Tibetan Buddhism, is fully respected. People are free to learn and debate Buddhist doctrines, get ordained as monks and practice Buddhist rites, says the white paper.