LHASA -- A press conference is held Friday in Lhasa, capital city of Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, for the release of a white paper on the progress of human rights in Xizang.

The document, titled "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era," is released by the State Council Information Office.

The event introduced the all-round progress and historic achievements of the human rights cause in Xizang in the new era.

"Today is the Serfs' Emancipation Day. Sixty-six years ago, Xizang launched the democratic reform, and about one million serfs were emancipated from feudal serfdom, marking a landmark chapter in the history of both human civilization and the global progress of human rights," said Gama Cedain, chairman of the regional government of Xizang, at the press conference.

Reflecting on the development of human rights in Xizang over the past six decades, especially since the 18th Communist Party of China National Congress in 2012, Gama Cedain said that the Party's leadership has provided a fundamental guarantee for lasting stability and high-quality development in the region.

He noted that people of all ethnic groups in Xizang have made historic achievements in their rights to subsistence and development.

Officials attending the press conference responded to domestic and foreign journalists' questions concerning topics such as Xizang's experience in human rights development and progress, and whole-process people's democracy.

This year marks the 60th founding anniversary of Xizang autonomous region.