The running of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Sichuan-Tibet Highway not only accelerates the social and economic developments in Tibet but is of great significance to link the plateau with the rest of the world, said a Chinese expert on modern international relations.

Ma Jiali, researcher of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, commented in Beijing on a recent seminar held to mark the 60th anniversary of the running of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

"I think it's safe to liken the two highways to blood as they hold Tibet and the inland cities together," said Ma Jiali, adding the two highways are crucial for the national unity.

The Qinghai-Tibet and Sichuan-Tibet highways which add up to 4,360 km were both officially put into traffic on Dec.25, 1954, ending Tibet’s history of no modern highway.

According to Ma Jiali, it used to take more than one year to travel back and forth between Tibet and any inland city due to the typical geographic environment, which becomes a barrier for the communication between Tibet and central government.

Ma Jiali, researcher of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations [Photo/China Tibet Online]

"So, the running of the two highways, in a sense, has held the central government and Tibet together," Ma emphasized.

In 1962, Indian side constantly caused troubles in the China-India border areas and later invaded Chinese territory. The two highways contributed remarkably to the success of China’s war of self-defensive counterattack since a total of 65,700 tons of goods and materials were delivered to the front via the Qinghai-Tibet and Sichuan-Tibet highways, according to historical data.

Ma pointed out that the two highways were of strategic importance in safeguarding the national security and maintaining the territorial integrity.

Since the 12th Five Year Plan, the transportation capacity in Tibet has been increasingly enhanced, injecting powerful vigor into the steady economic growth in Tibet. In 2013, the gross domestic product in Tibet has hit 80.767 billion yuan, with an increase of 12.1% year on year.

"So we believe Tibet will have a brighter future with such two highways," Ma added.