Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursday, October 10, 1996

Xinhua is the official news agency of the People's Republic of China

LHASA (Oct. 10) XINHUA - International aid is playing an active role in promoting economic and social progress in Tibet, one of the most remote and rural areas in China.

Since China began its drive of reform and openness in 1978, Tibet has received foreign aid worth 43.697 million US dollars through 38 bilateral or multi-lateral aid programs.

Some programs added momentum to Tibet's economic growth and improved the efficiency of its enterprises.

The first and second phase construction of Tibet's largest geo-thermal power plant in Yangbajain was completed with the financial support of the United Nations Development Program and the Italian government, which totalled 12.17 million US dollars.

The UN World Food Program took out 6.753 million US dollars to raise food production in Tibet, while a German investment of 7.425 million US dollars turned the Lhasa Leather Factory, which had suffered losses over a long period, into one of Tibet's most successful enterprises.

In other projects, the UN Development Program aided Tibet in planning local tourism development, the Belgian government installed a modern telecommunications system with 5,000 program-controlled phones in Lhasa, and the German government funded a number of small hydro-power projects across the region.

Education and public health have also drawn large sums of foreign aid.