BEIJING - A white paper on ethnic equality, unity and development in Xinjiang revealed that the gross regional product (GRP) of the region in 2014 marked a growth of over 115-fold from that in 1955.

The white paper, titled "Historical Witness to Ethnic Equality, Unity and Development in Xinjiang" and issued by the State Council Information Office on Thursday, said that Xinjiang's GRP was only RMB1.2 billion in 1955 and RMB3.9 billion in 1978.

In 2014, the document said, it reached RMB 927.3 billion, a 116-fold increase over that of 1955 in real terms, with an annual growth rate of 8.3 percent.

Also, the docuemnt noted that Xinjiang's per-capita GRP rose to RMB 40,648 in 2014 from RMB241 in 1955, marking a 23-fold increase in real terms, and a 5.6-percent annual growth.

The white paper further noted that the economic structure is being steadily optimized and the infrastructure has become more and more complete in Xinjiang.

"Xinjiang has become an information society," the white paper said, adding that solid progress has been made in opening up to the outside world.

Moreover, the report added that steady progress has been made in environmental protection.

Since 2010, Xinjiang has planted or protected over 2,500,000 (166,667 ha) of forests by restricting access to mountain areas. Its total forest area and forest stock rank 14th and 12th in China.