Premier Zhu Rongji recently told the Fourth Tibet Working Conference sponsored by the State Council and the Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party in Beijing that China has approved some 31.2 billion yuan (US$3.74 billion) for major construction projects in Tibet.
One hundred seventeen projects have been ratified in areas important to Tibet: Agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail lines, and similar public works), science and technology education, ecological protection and construction of local government buildings.
The state also will add new preferential policies for Tibet, while reviewing the current preferential policies which will be adjusted as needed. Tibet will also continue to be supported by its inland sister cities and provinces which are contributing an additional 70 construction programs valued at 1.6 billion yuan.
Local governments in Tibet must give particular attention to transportation, power supplies, and telecommunication, irrigation facilities, said Zhu Rongji in pointing out that a frail infrastructure continues to hamper Tibet’s economic development.
“As the basic industry, agriculture and animal husbandry should be supported to raise farmers’incomes. We should use Tibet’s resources to establish core industries that will favor market potential.” Premier Zhu said.
Zhu Rongji also urged local governments to encourage tourism as a core industry by adopting measures to boost tourism in Tibet.
Education is also a priority of the central government. With the strategy of “rejuvenating Tibet through science and education,” the state will seek to train more talented people in science and technology as a way of fostering Tibet’s scientific progress.
(CIIC 07/11/2001)
