Published by: World Tibet Network News, 96/06/04 23:00 GMT

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0826 gmt 28 May 96

Text of report by Xinhua news agency

Lhasa, 28th May: The Tibet autonomous regional government plans to build seven county-level cities over the next decade, according to a leading official.

Xu Mingyang, vice-chairman of the autonomous regional government, said that the new cities will be in the prefectures of Nagqu, Qamdo, Gyangze and Yadong.

He said that the regional government will promulgate a decision later this year on speeding up the construction of small cities and towns.

He said that long-term construction plans for most county towns and cities have already been drawn up.

For example, this regional capital will be enlarged to 75 sq.km by the year 2015 from 50 sq.km at present, according to an official of the Lhasa urban construction bureau.

He said that Lhasa's urban population will increase to 400,000 in 2015 from 140,000 at present.

Bayi Town, the seat of the Nyingchi prefectural commissioner's office, will be built into a city of gardens. Zetang Township, the seat of the Shannan prefectural commissioner's office, will focus on building the western section along the Yalong River, where houses in Tibetan style will be built.

Xigaze [Shigatse] City will concentrate on protecting historical sites and cultural relics. Nagqu Town, a transportation hub in northern Tibet, will try to expand its grassland-orientated tourism industry and handicrafts.