Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, Mar 13, 1996

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1329 gmt 11 Mar 96

Text of report by Xinhua news agency

Beijing, 11th March: Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo said stability is always of overriding importance for the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Joining in a panel discussion today of Tibetan deputies to the National People's Congress in session here, Wu urged Tibet to do a better job of handling the relationship between reform, development and stability.

"Only with stability can there be economic development and social progress," said Wu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

He said any activities that aim to split Tibet from China and sabotage unity among different ethnic groups should be resolutely opposed.

Since Tibet has its peculiarities, its economic development and social advancement must proceed from local conditions, he said.

"Tibet should never copy the experience of other areas," Wu said, noting that Tibet, first of all, should do a good job in building up infrastructure.

Acknowledging that Tibet's guidelines and strategy for its medium-and long-term development conform with the actual regional conditions, Wu also urged Tibet to train more skilled people as "capital investment" .

According to leading Tibetan officials at the discussion, Tibet's major goals for economic development in the next five years include: a ten per cent annual economic growth rate, basic self-sufficiency in grain and oil, and a "relatively comfortable life" for the majority of the local population.

To achieve the goals, Tibet will give priorities to mineral-related industries, processing of timber and farm and animal products, the handicraft sector, and construction of transportation, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructural facilities.