Xinhua is the official Press Agency of the Peoples Republic of China

LHASA (Aug. 27) XINHUA - A bridge of understanding, communication and mutual assistance has been forged between Shanghai, China's biggest economic powerhouse, and southwest China's Tibet known as the "roof of the world".

Large quantities of educational and sanitary equipment, donated by Shanghai, can be seen in Xigaze, a major city to the west of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous region. In a county at the south end of the Xigaze region, there are 15 Shanghai-funded projects, including two primary schools, a hospital and a kindergarten.

This is part of the outcome of the Third National Conference on Tibet, which was called in 1994, urging the country's economically developed provinces to help Tibet.

As part of the move, the first group of 49 officials from those provinces were sent to Tibet in May of last year.

"Though many Shanghai officials have worked in Tibet since the 1950s, " said a Tibetan official, "however, it's quite different this time when so many people from Shanghai have come at one time."

"Those Shanghai officials not only have brought with them advanced management expertise, but also new ideas on how to develop local economy, " he said.

An increasing number of Tibetan officials have been sent to study in Shanghai's factories.