China has earmarked 570 million yuan (US$78.5 million) for the
preservation of 22 historical and cultural relics in the
southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region.
The funds will be directed at 15 monasteries under state-level
protection and seven historical sites proving the rule over Tibet
by central governments in Chinese history, said Nyi'ma Cering,
Tibet Regional Cultural Heritage Bureau director.
The project will start this year and last until 2010.
"The preservation efforts will be focused on the Jokhang,
Ramogia, Sanyai and Samgya-Goutog monasteries this year, with an
input of 50 million yuan from the Ministry of Finance," he
said.
The latest move to protect Tibet's cultural and religious relics
came after another preservation project of 330 million yuan on
Potala Palace, Sagya Monastery and Norbu Lingka Palace. These began
in 2002 and were expected to be finished this year.
Over the past two decades, the central and local governments
have invested more than 700 million yuan in total in the
preservation and maintenance of historical and cultural relics in
Tibet. This covered more than 1,400 monasteries, cultural relics
and religious sites.
(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)