Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, August 19, 1996

in English 0606 gmt 12 Aug 96, published in SWB issue FE/2690 section G, p7

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1120 gmt 16 Aug 96

Text of report by Xinhua news agency

Lhasa, 16th August: The Tibet Autonomous Region will strive to achieve an annual growth rate of 10 per cent, as well as an increase in the economic returns, according to a leader in the autonomous region.

Gyaincain [Gyalcan] Norbu, chairman of the Tibetan autonomous regional government, told a group of Japanese visitors from the Japan-China Friendship Association that the autonomous region has set its Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), and the long-term objectives for the year 2010.

The plans aim at restructuring the economy while focusing on major projects to keep in line with the whole nation, and to lay a solid foundation for the economic growth of the next century, Gyaincain Norbu noted.

According to the plans, 450,000 people will be lifted out of poverty in Tibet and the majority of the regional population will be living a relatively comfortable life, he said.

Since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, especially the central government's third meeting on Tibet in July of 1994, Tibet has witnessed rapid economic development, and achieved the objectives of the Eighth Five-Year Plan, said Gyaincain Norbu.

He attributed all the success to the kind attention from the central government and support from other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and joint efforts of 2.43 million Tibetan people [Note: Tibet official Raidi was quoted by Xinhua (in English 0606 gmt 12 Aug 96, published in SWB issue FE/2690 section G, p7) as saying the Tibet population was 2,389,000 on 1st October 1995. The Tibet Five-Year Plan (published in FE/2688 section S1 p7) gives 2.57 million as the "year-end" population.]

Since the peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibet has been enjoying a unique policy set by the central government, human, financial and material support, and regional national autonomy, Gyaincain Norbu pointed out, when briefing the Japanese delegates on the assistance to Tibet from the whole country.

The assistance has "resulted in considerable changes in Tibet" , he added.

Since July, 1994, a total investment of 3.36bn yuan from the whole nation has been invested in the construction of 62 major projects, among which 42 have now completed. The projects covered agriculture, industry, posts and telecommunications, health and sanitation, and municipal works.

The construction has played an important role in infrastructure improvement and economic development, Gyaincain Norbu said. In addition, 14 provinces and cities around the country have established links with seven localities in Tibet, offering aid and assistance to them on a regular basis.

In the period of 1994-1995, more than 500 trained personnel were sent from outside Tibet, which promoted ethnic unity, and was well received by the Tibetan people.

Muraoka Kyuhei, director-general of the Japan-China Friendship Association and head of the delegation, said he saw the great changes in Tibet during his week-long trip to the region.

However, he added, the international community, including Japan, lacks knowledge of Tibet's present development, a fact that demands even more extensive exchanges between Tibet and Japan, such as those in the field of economy, trade and culture.

Muraoka expressed his hope that Japanese governmental funds would be invested in such areas as Tibet's infrastructure, electric power and cultural relics preservation.