China's central government and various provincial authorities
have provided plentiful aid to Tibet, which plays a key role in
promoting the social and economic development of Tibet.
Zhang Qingli, acting secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Regional
Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remark at a work conference
held recently in Lhasa, capital of Tibet.
"Without support and aid from the State, Tibet would have no
access to progress," Zhang said.
Statistics showed that during the period of the country's 10th
Five-Year Plan (2001-2005), Tibet reported a fiscal revenue of
5.246 billion yuan (US$655.75 million) and investment totaling
71.953 billion yuan (US$8.99 billion).
Nevertheless, Tibet's large deficit spending during the period
was balanced due to financial aid from the central government and
various provinces and municipalities.
Starting from 1994, the central government carried out a 10-year
program providing the ethnic region with financial aid from a dozen
of inland provinces across China.
Meanwhile, officials and technologists from other parts of the
nation flocked to work in Tibet, joining in the local social and
economic development.
The central government poured huge amount of investment in a
total of 117 infrastructure projects, including the world-famous
Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Hundreds of other projects were funded by
provinces and municipalities across the country.
About 1,900 officials and experts from some 17 provinces and
municipalities and 59 ministries have exerted full support to help
local ethnic people gain an access to wealthy life.
From 2001 to 2005, the region experienced its fastest
development in economy. The production output during the period
reached a year-on-year growth rate of 12 percent or above.
According to Zhang, the per capita net income of Tibetan farmers
also kept a double-digit increasing rate during the five years.
In the coming five years, Tibet will focus on a series of
development projects to further improve living conditions of local
residents and increase their incomes with more investment,
technological support and specialized personnel from inland areas,
Zhang added.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2006)