The program, which costs the central government 80 million yuan (nearly US$ 10 million), has so far helped set up 75 frequency modulation stations at county level and renovated 14 medium wave stations, each with emissivity over one kilowatt.

The regional government has also spent more than 20 million yuan (US$ 2.4 million) in renovating six medium wave stations and training 290 staff.

The overall emission capacity in Tibet has reached 4,000 kilowatts compared with 2,500 kilowatt a year ago.

As a result of this endeavor, radio stations have extended their Tibetan language broadcast time from nine hours a day to 17 hours.

"The move is building an 'air bridge' that keeps a closer tie between the government and the people, and spreads more advanced culture and modern science among the Tibetans," said Guo Jinlong, secretary of the regional committee of the Communist Party of China.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2002)