Tibet moves ahead in impressive fashion

TORONTO: Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has made eye-catching achievements in its modernization drive in the past 50 years with tremendous support from the central government and assistance from other ethnic groups in the country, a Tibetologist said here on Thursday.
Briefing the local media on the development in all fields in Tibet, Phudorji, deputy head of a Tibetologist delegation to the China Tibetan Culture Week which is being held at Toronto, told a press conference that living standards in Tibet have improved remarkably in the past five decades.

Phudorji said the autonomous region's GDP has reached 13.8 billion yuan (US$1.67 billion), with the average income of farmers and herdsmen climbing to 1,404 yuan (US$170). The disposable income of urban inhabitants now stands at 7,119 yuan (US$860).

Admitting a growth gap exists between Tibet and other areas of China, Phudorji said it would be narrowed with support from the central government and other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China.

The Tibetologist said China's central government had earmarked about 32 billion yuan (US$3.86 billion) for projects in Tibet in the hope of spurring the economic growth rate to 12 per cent in the next five years.

On the preservation of the Tibetan language and culture and freedom of religion, he said the Tibetan language is taught at schools and school attendance has reached 87.2 per cent. Tibetans enjoy freedom of religion as guaranteed by law, Phudorji said.

Commenting on the China Tibetan Culture Week activities in Toronto, he said it would help promote mutual understanding and deepen the friendship between Tibetans and the Canadians.

After a week in Toronto, the China Tibetan Culture Week will move on to Canada's capital city of Ottawa and the western city of Vancouver where its 11-day programme in Canada will conclude.

Xinhua