From urban areas to rural regions, and from government departments to temples, the majority of the 2.6 million people in the Tibet Autonomous Region, located at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau - known as the "roof of the world" - now have access to TV programs, radio services and electricity, and some Tibetans have bought their own cars, mobile phones and other modern telecommunication tools.

The central government and local governments of other provinces and autonomous regions have given support to Tibet over the past few decades in the economic and technological sectors, which has laid a solid foundation for the economic development of the region.

Starting in 1996, the ministries and provinces have given free assistance to help Tibet build 62 key projects, which cover agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, communications, energy resources, postal services and telecommunications. More than 70 percent of these projects are urgently needed in the region.

Construction of hydro-power stations in the Shannan area and county-level power stations around Tibet have brought the region's total installed capacity to 370,000 kilowatts and a generating capacity of 545 million kilowatt-hours annually.

The central government invested heavily in building airports in Lhasa and Qamdo, and the region has been linked by air routes to many domestic and international cities. The central government has also helped the region improve its highway leading to Nepal.

A modern communications network has also taken shape in the region.

Currently, the total length of cables in Tibet is more than 4,000 kilometers. The cables have reached all cities and towns along major highways except those in the Ali Prefecture. All of the counties in the region have access to program-controlled telephones and 92 percent of the region's counties are linked to the national automatic switchboard for long-distance calls.

The assistance projects have become a driving force behind the economic development in the region. A modern industrial system which combines mining, building, forestry and leather-making has taken shape and a group of promising enterprises are emerging.

Currently, the region has more than 20,000 water conservation facilities, and more than 70 percent of its arable land can be irrigated and is planted with improved crops. Bumper grain harvests have been reported for 11 consecutive years, with the total grain output reaching 850,000 tons annually, up from 180,000 tons over four decades ago.

Statistics show that the output of meat has risen to 127,000 tons annually from 15,000 tons before the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951. Over the past 22 years, a total of 660,000 farmers and herdsmen have shaken off poverty.

The assistance projects have changed local people's lifestyles as well. In the regional capital of Lhasa, residents can enjoy TV programs transmitted through various channels, farmers and herdsmen in remote areas of the region have access to electricity, local schools have tall buildings equipped with modern facilities, the children of farmers and herdsmen are studying in bright classrooms, and the Potala Palace is attracting numerous visitors from home and abroad.

(Xinhua 05/29/2001)