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In foreign trade, Tibet is moving from the former system of mainly small scale barter trade to large scale deals in multiple forms. In the past, Tibet primarily exported animal by-products and other primary products to India and Nepal; today, however, it also exports intensively processed products to more than 20 areas, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and the United States. This is progress never seen before. In 2004, the import and export value hit US$223.55 million, an increase of 38.4 percent over the previous year. This includes US$130.09 million of exports, an increase of 6.9 percent; and US$93.46 million of imports, an increase of 140 percent. In 2004, Tibet exported US$84.77 million worth of products to Nepal, an increase of 12.6 percent; US$23.04 million worth of products to Hong Kong, an increase of 170 percent; and US$5.13 million worth of products to India, an increase of 3.5 percent.
Border Trade
The Tibet Autonomous Region is located in the southwest frontier of China, with the border area totaling 343,500 square km. Along the borderline are 312 passages leading to foreign countries, with 44 passages perennially used and 268 others open seasonally. These include 184 linked up with Nepal, 85 with India, 18 with Bhuttan, five with Myanmar, and 12 with Kashmir. There are 21 border counties and 104 border townships.
There are five ports involved with the border trade in Tibet. They include Zham, which is a first-class port of China, and Burang, Gyirong and Riwo, which are of the second class. Zham, Gyirong and Riwo are involved with business with Nepal, with Burang also doing business with India and Nepal. Historically, Yadong was a port involved with trade with India, Bhuttan and Sikkim; but so far it has not resumed opening yet. In Tibet there are 28 markets involved with the border trade. In addition, Gonggar Airport in Lhasa is a first-class port. Of Tibet's import and export value achieved in 2004, border trade reached US$90.52 million, or 40.5 percent of the total trade value, an increase of 16.7 percent over the previous year. This included US$85.63 million of exports, an increase of 18.3 percent, and US$4.89 million of imports, a fall of 5.2 percent.
International Aid Programs
Some international organizations have started economic cooperation with the Tibet Autonomous Region and undertaken projects with international aid. For example, the UN Development Program (UNDP) has, since 1981, provided US$4 million in aid to the construction of the Yangbajain Geothermal Power Station. The UN World Food Program (UNWFP) aided drought-relief and irrigation projects for the comprehensive development of agriculture in the four counties (districts) in the Lhasa River valley in 1989, all of which are now in operation. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) provided US$3.22 million to construct 10 projects, including the Tibet Health Center for Women and Children. In 1995, the UNDP decided to provide US$822,000 to the four counties of Nyalam, Dinggye, Tingyi and Gyirong in the Qomolangma Nature Reserve in west Tibet, for construction of projects concerning agriculture, housing, schools, wind power generation and household handicraft.
Community rehabilitation program for handicapped children. The program was launched in 2001. On one hand, with the financial aid and rehabilitation expertise provided by the Handicap International, 26 people have been specially trained to provide community technical services for rehabilitation. On the other hand, services are provided for training family members. Three community rehabilitation service centers have been established in Ngaqen Township, Togde Township and Xingfu Village. Besides, plans for long-term tracking treatment services and regular assessment have been made.
Artificial limbs and orthopedic equipment center. With supporting funds provided by the regional government, the Handicap International takes the responsibility for providing various facilities and raw materials to train local Tibetans in manufacturing artificial limbs. Since the program was initiated in August 2001, a total of 201 handicapped people have been equipped with 213 artificial limbs and other orthopedic items.
Tibet Cataract No-barrier Zone act. In May 2004, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the Lions' Club International started the second phase of their joint project entitled "SightFirst China Action." The project plans to organize medical teams to Tibet, who will conduct surgery on 2,500 cataract patients a year and guarantee the rehabilitation of most cataract patients qualified for the surgery. By 2007, the act should basically enable all patients suffering from blindness as a result of cataract to receive the surgery and regain vision, while ensuring that every new case of cataract can be properly treated. At the same time, the act will help 18 prefecture- and county-level hospitals build an eye disease department and train 40 Tibetan medical workers for eye diseases, thus leaving behind them a "permanent medical team" in Tibet. The project will also educate the public on eye protection to enhance the public awareness of blindness prevention. Owing to adverse natural factors in Tibet, such as high altitude, oxygen deficiency and strong ultraviolet rays, the region has a high incidence of cataract, which often results in blindness. Cataract incidence in Tibet is about 60 percentage points higher than in other parts of China.
Government Foreign Service Organs
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Lhasa Customs |
The Lhasa Customs is a local organ of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, and has under it the customs set up in Xigaze, Nyalam, Shiquanhe Town and Gyirong, plus a representative office set up in the Lhasa Postal Administration. With the approval of the General Customs Administration, the Lhasa Customs has set up customs supervision stations in Chengdu of Sichuan Province and Golmud of Qinghai Province to examine goods imported for the autonomous region. The Lhasa Customs follows two kinds of tariff: The Import and Export Tariff of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, and the Methods of the Tibet Customs of the People’s Republic of China on the Collection of Import Duties and its rules for implementation. With regard to imports for sale within the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Lhasa Customs collects taxes according to a list of 21 tax items and at a low tariff rate especially for the autonomous region. Goods approved for sale to other parts of China are taxed according to the national customs’ tariff rate. |
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Import-Export Commodities Inspection Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region |
The bureau has set up branches in Zhamm Chengdu of Sichuan Province and Golmud of Qinghai Province to inspect import and export goods. |
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Food Hygiene Inspection Organs |
There are more than 80 food hygiene supervision and inspection organs. Beginning June 1, 1992, food imported through ports of the Tibet Autonomous Region have to be inspected by the Lhasa Imported Food Hygiene Inspection Office of the People’s Republic of China. Only food with an approval certificate issued by the Lhasa office can be sold in the autonomous region. |
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Lhasa Animals and Plants Quarantine Office |
Under the office are four branches in Zham, Burang, Gyirong and Ritog. It also has checkpoints at Lhasa Gonggar Ariport and the Lhasa International Postal Exchange Bureau. |
Total Value of Imports and Exports
|
|
RMB（10000 Yuan） |
USD（US$） |
|
Year |
Import and Export Value |
Export Value |
Import Value |
Import and Export Value |
Export Value |
Import Value |
|
1965 |
693 |
110 |
583 |
243 |
39 |
204 |
|
1970 |
474 |
35 |
439 |
190 |
14 |
176 |
|
1975 |
1760 |
144 |
1616 |
898 |
73 |
825 |
|
1980 |
2463 |
381 |
2082 |
1650 |
255 |
1395 |
|
1985 |
5422 |
1494 |
3928 |
1844 |
508 |
1336 |
|
1990 |
14267 |
6581 |
7686 |
3022 |
1394 |
1628 |
|
1992 |
34891 |
10466 |
24425 |
6434 |
1930 |
4504 |
|
1993 |
89305 |
13076 |
76229 |
10265 |
1503 |
8762 |
|
1994 |
266887 |
41857 |
225030 |
31288 |
4907 |
26381 |
|
1995 |
53726 |
24942 |
28784 |
7052 |
3494 |
3558 |
|
1997 |
97954 |
41473 |
56481 |
11833 |
5010 |
6823 |
|
1999 |
146140 |
75655 |
70485 |
16622 |
8605 |
8017 |
|
2000 |
113352 |
98597 |
14755 |
13029 |
11333 |
1696 |
|
2001 |
78416 |
68178 |
10238 |
9482 |
8244 |
1238 |
|
2002 |
107775 |
67070 |
40705 |
13032 |
8110 |
4922 |
|
2003 |
133271 |
100613 |
32658 |
16115 |
12166 |
3949 |
Note: Prio-1998 figures refer to figures calculated by foreign trade departments. After 1999, they refer to figures calculated by the customs. (The Same Below)
Value of Export Trade Unit: US$10000
|
Index |
1990 |
1995 |
1999 |
2000 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
Export Value |
1394 |
3494 |
8605 |
11333 |
8110 |
12166 |
|
Cereals and Oils
|
89 |
14 |
302 |
334 |
|
147 |
|
Animal By-Products |
1077 |
15 |
1021 |
2342 |
261 |
835 |
|
Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs |
129 |
15 |
95 |
78 |
0.54 |
66 |
|
Carpets |
51 |
26 |
162 |
178 |
975 |
12 |
|
Light Industrial Products |
39 |
68 |
2237 |
4032 |
5122 |
9649 |
Value of Import Trade Unit: US$10000
|
Index |
1990 |
1995 |
1999 |
2000 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
Import and Export Value |
1628 |
3558 |
8017 |
1696 |
4922 |
3949 |
|
Automobile and Motorcycles |
529 |
1729 |
73 |
268 |
374 |
212 |
|
Other Machinery |
13 |
1252 |
392 |
327 |
278 |
2416 |
|
Instruments |
3 |
541 |
593 |
252 |
33 |
19 |
|
Steels |
311 |
|
540 |
2 |
0.4 |
2 |
|
Rubber and Rubber Products |
2 |
|
689 |
21 |
|
4 |
|
Chemical Raw Materials |
|
20 |
3816 |
1 |
|
5 |
|
Pesticides |
173 |
188 |
|
|
|
|
|
Medical Instruments |
6 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
28 |
|
Sports and Stationery Products |
18 |
5 |
49 |
171 |
|
|
|
Building Materials |
|
|
75 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
Paper |
|
|
4 |
|
0.3 |
4.5 |
|
Photographing and Filming Facilities
|
35 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
Value of Border Import and Export Trade
|
Year |
RMB（10000 Yuan） |
USD (US$10000) |
|
Import and Export Value |
Export Value |
Import Value |
Import and Export Value |
Export Value |
Import Value |
|
1970 |
257 |
35 |
222 |
103 |
14 |
89 |
|
1975 |
355 |
144 |
211 |
181 |
73 |
108 |
|
1980 |
761 |
381 |
380 |
500 |
255 |
245 |
|
1985 |
1647 |
819 |
828 |
559 |
278 |
281 |
|
1990 |
4026 |
2475 |
1551 |
902 |
524 |
378 |
|
1992 |
5829 |
5352 |
477 |
1075 |
987 |
88 |
|
1993 |
7760 |
6072 |
1688 |
892 |
698 |
194 |
|
1994 |
10500 |
3557 |
6943 |
1231 |
417 |
814 |
|
1995 |
4806 |
4059 |
747 |
579 |
489 |
90 |
|
1997 |
2989 |
2724 |
265 |
361 |
329 |
32 |
|
1999 |
69356 |
62014 |
7342 |
7972 |
7128 |
844 |
|
2000 |
94430 |
88644 |
5786 |
10854 |
10189 |
665 |
|
2001 |
67078 |
62951 |
4127 |
8111 |
7612 |
499 |
|
2002 |
50789 |
46792 |
3994 |
6141 |
5658 |
483 |
|
2003 |
64150 |
59883 |
4267 |
7757 |
7241 |
516 |
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