China's Tibet has made eye-catching achievements in its modernization drive in the past 50 years with tremendous support from the central government and assistance from other ethnic groups in the country, a Tibetologist said here on Thursday.
Briefing the local media on the development in all fields in Tibet, Phudorji, deputy head of a Tibetologists delegation to the China Tibetan Culture Week, said at a press conference that the living standard of the people in Tibet has been lifted remarkably in the past five decades.
Phudorji said the GDP of the Tibet Autonomous Region has reached 13.8 billion Renminbi yuan (US$1.66 billion), with the average income of peasants and herdsmen climbing to 1,404 yuan (US$169) and the disposable income of urban inhabitants reaching 7,119 yuan (US$858).
Admitting the growth gap between Tibet and other developed areas in China, he said it will be narrowed with support from the central government and other provinces in China.
The Tibetologist said China's central government had earmarked about 32 billion yuan (US$3.5 million) for projects in Tibet in the hope of spurring the economic growth rate to 12 percent in the next five years.
On the preservation of the Tibetan language and culture and freedom of religion, he said the Tibetan language is taught at schools and the school attendance has reached 87.2 percent, and the Tibetans have enjoyed freedom of religion as guaranteed by law.
Commenting on the China Tibetan Culture Week activities in Toronto, he said this culture week would help promote mutual understanding and deepen the friendship between Tibetans and the Canadians.
After a week in Toronto, the China Tibetan Culture Week will move on to Canada's capital city of Ottawa and the western city of Vancouver where its 11-day program in Canada will conclude.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2002)
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