BEIJING, April 19 (AFP) - The official China Daily on Saturday thanked overseas humanitarian organisations for their help in Tibet, but stressed that all foreign aid had to be "unconditional and non-political."

The article appeared a few days after a senior Chinese official said that material support to Tibet from the Chinese government was an essential weapon in the fight against separatism.

"The generosity of these (foreign) organisations has helped improve the living standards of many Tibetan people," the official China Daily said, quoting Sonam Norbu, secretary-general of the Tibet Development Fund (TDF).

"Since 1987, TDF has maintained close links with dozens of friendly overseas charity organisations including the Swiss Red Cross Society, ... the Rotary Club of Hong Kong and UNESCO," the daily said.

"Overseas ... donors are satisfied with TDF's success in implementing projects in disaster relief, culture and education, medical and social welfare," it added.

The report said the TDF received nearly 38 million yuan (4.58 million dollars) last year, compared to 15.6 million yuan in 1995.

"Overseas assistance and aid must be unconditional and non-political, according to the TDF council," it said.

On Wednesday, Li Ruihuan, a member of the permanent committee of the politburo, was quoted by state television as saying material aid was crucial to the fight against Tibetan separatism and the Dalai Lama.

"Experience over the past few years has shown that material support to Tibet is not just a question of economics, but a major factor in the stability of Tibet," Li said.

Economic aid "was directly linked to the fight against the Dalai Lama and preserving national unity," Li told a meeting on economic aid to Tibet.

Tibet has been the scene of bloody clashes between the security forces and supporters of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who fled into exile in India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.