Lhasa, February 14 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Tibetans are preparing to celebrate the traditional Tibetan new year, which starts on February 19 and coincides with the traditional Chinese Spring Festival. Groups of different ethnic peoples are holding forums and tea receptions to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new year.

On February 8, at the hall of the Nationalities and religious affairs commission of the Tibet Autonomous Region, people from all walks of life and buddhist monks and nuns gathered to celebrate the Tibetan new year.

Addressing the gathering, Gyibug Puncogcedain, Vice-Chairman of the People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, said, "in 1995, Tibet's gross domestic product (gdp) reached 5.25 billion yuan (600 million u.s. dollars), up 10 percent over the previous year." "Agriculture and animal husbandry have reaped good harvests for several consecutive years," he said, adding that gross industrial output amounted to 630 million yuan. He continued that last year the search and confirmation of the soul boy of the 10th Banchan Lama were completed and the 11th Bainqen Erdini enthroned. He said that the regional government has drawn up the ninth five-year plan and the long-range target up to the year 2010 for economic and social development in Tibet.

On the same day, senior intellectuals gathered in the auditorium of the Autonomous Region's United Front Work Department there. Speaking at the gathering, Danzim, deputy secretary of the party committee of the autonomous region of Tibet, said, "Tibet's economic take-off and invigoration relies largely on concerted efforts and unity of all intellectuals of various ethnic groups." Tibet enjoyed social stability in 1995, with reforms stepped up and opening wider to the outside world, according to local government officials. Great changes in Tibet have brought more Tibetans living abroad to back home to visit their relatives and friends. In 1995, some 1,000 Tibetans residing abroad returned to the regional capital of Lhasa alone, and 24 of them have settled down there. To help ensure the returned Tibetans to have a happy Tibetan new year, the regional government held a reception for them and their families in Tibet.