The State Council has decided to maintain favorable and supportive policies during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010) to promote Tibet Autonomous Region's economic and social development.

The central government attaches great importance to work in Tibet, having held four working conferences on Tibet since the reform and the opening-up policy began at the end of 1970s, and formulated favorable and supportive policies to accelerate the region's economic development and stability.

Despite the great improvement in Tibetan people's lives, Tibet is still an under-developed region of China due to its special geographic environment and particular historical factors.

The State Council, therefore, has decided to continue the policy formulated in the fourth working conference on Tibet and enhance support to Tibet in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, human resources, education, science, public health, culture and social welfare.

The government will boost action to improve production and life conditions of Tibetan farmers and herdsmen, and will view increase in income as a priority task in Tibetan economic and social development.

The central government will add investment to Tibet, and by the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan period, almost all Tibetan farmers and herdsmen will have their water and electricity problems solved.

The government will continue enhancing infrastructure construction in Tibet, extending the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, reconstructing the main roads connecting Tibet and surrounding regions, accelerating airport construction, as well as improving the energy, postal, and telephone services over the next five years.

The government will push the development of education, science, culture, public health and social welfare, popularizing the nine-year compulsory education, enhancing high school education and improving college education.

The government will continue to increase investment for cultural relic protection, and improve the system on disease prevention and control.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)