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Xiaohong, 28, a woman of Lhoba ethnic group, one of China's
smallest ethnic minorities with a population of 3,000 only, has
been elected a deputy to the First Session of the 10th National
People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, representing the
southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region.
This has made her the youngest member of the autonomous regional
delegation of NPC deputies to the ongoing first annual full session
of the 10th NPC in Beijing.
"Owing to poor transportation and telecommunications facilities,
our area is secluded and suffers a serious shortage of talents,"
said Xiaohong, deputy head of Mainling town, who had been working
for two straight years in Mainling county in Nyingchi prefecture of
southeastern Tibet.
Still, major changes have taken place in the life of Lhoba people
since China launched its reform and opening-up drive more than two
decades ago, said Xiaohong. The per-capita net income of the Lhobas
has now reached 2,250 RMB yuan (about US$270), higher than the
autonomous region's average level.
Taking a pride in being a member of the state legislature, she
acknowledged that she felt even more excited to be able to come to
the Chinese capital of Beijing along with her father-in-law, a
deputy chairman of the Mainling County Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and also a
member of the 10th CPPCC National Committee.
The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body,
is convening its annual session in Beijing concurrently.
"We held a family dinner to celebrate this joyous event before the
two of us left for Beijing," said Xiaohong. "All our family members
hoped we would perform our respective duties well on behalf of our
people."
(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2003)
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