The Chinese central government's unflinching stand has been that the Tibet autonomous region should implement tailor-made development policies. In the late 1950s, Tibet went through democratic reforms that ended serfdom in the territory. In the 1990s, the region embarked on a massive afforestation and environmental protection drive. Today, natural reserves cover nearly 40 percent of Tibet's territory, compared with just 15 percent in the rest of the country.

Thanks to the central authorities' financial assistance, Tibetan people's livelihood has improved continuously without falling prey to polluting industries. Perhaps this is what prompted Losang Jamcan, head of Tibet autonomous region's government, to say at the 2014 Tibet development forum in Lhasa that, "the residents of Tibet are enjoying the best housing, medical care, schooling and transportation in history".

Co-hosted by Tibet's regional government and the State Council Information Office early this month, the occasion was the first forum when Chinese authorities turned to groups of foreigners for suggestions on Tibet's sustainable development model.