Tibet is keen to follow the rest of China in opening up to the world. That could mean a new turn in China's relations with India, since all of the 3,500-km border between the two countries runs along the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).

    The vice chairman of TAR, Lhasong Gyaltsen, told a group of visiting Indian journalists that the government would like trade, tourism and other interactions with India and other South Asian countries to improve.

    Of the South Asian countries, Tibet's largest border trade is with Nepal. TAR has 28 ports for border trade and most are on its border with Nepal.

    Lhasong's remarks are significant in the backdrop of the arrangement between India and China to begin border trade across Nathu-la in Sikkim.

    The TAR government's keenness to look up new areas for border trade could offer new opportunities for Ldakh.

    Lhasong's statement comes within days of the Chinese vice-minister for foreign affairs, Wu Dawei, saying in Beijing that China could consider a opening up more border trade points with India if the latter agreed. He also indicated that the TAR government was interested in opening up western Tibet to tourism from India.

    At present, only about 500 Indian tourists visit the pilgrimage route in the Kailash-Mansarovar area.

    "I have to admit that the tourism infrastructure in those western regions is poor compared to that in Lhasa. We'll like to improve the infrastructure in those areas. We welcome Indian tourists in Tibet and would work to create facilities for them," he said.

    Tibet's proposals to open up more to China's South Asian neighbors could be an extension of the massive efforts being taken in TAR to improve and expand its road and railway network.

    The 1,100-km railway project connecting Lhasa to Qinghai, across high mountains and turbulent rivers, Lhasong said, would be completed in July 2006.

    Work on four major highway projects will also be completed in the next two or three years, thereby expanding the road coverage in Tibet to 42,000 km in 33 counties.