ĦĦĦĦLARGER ROLE FOR TIBETANS
By the end of last year, Tibetans and people from other ethnic groups made up 70.42 percent of all officials serving in the regional government.
In addition to the regional government chairman and parliament leader, Tibetans have other top jobs, including chairman of the regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of the regional high court.
At city and county levels, officials of Tibetan or other ethnic groups account for 86.4 percent, according to figures provided by the regional government.
Meanwhile, Tibetans make up more than 70 percent of all the deputies to the regional parliament and members of the political advisory body.
Most of them are from local peasants and herders' families but have obtained a global vision.
Dorje Tsedrup, mayor of the regional capital Lhasa and a native of Ngari Prefecture, has dedicated himself to improving the city's environment.
"We have built 26 ecological preservation zones and 46 downtown parks in Lhasa," he said. "In a few years, we hope to build Lhasa into one of the most beautiful and inhabitable cities in the world," he said.
Last year, China's central government announced a plan to train600 more senior professionals among Tibet's ethnic groups in five years. They will specialize in medicine, science and technology, economics, culture, tourism and environment protection.
ĦĦĦĦFASTER GROWTH, BETTER WELFARE
The annual session of the regional parliament, set to conclude Friday afternoon, has focused on faster economic development in Tibet as well as better welfare for its people.
In his report to the parliament session, former governor Qiangba Puncog estimated Tibet's GDP grew by 12 percent to 43.7 billion yuan (6.4 billion U.S. dollars) last year.
The net per capita income of Tibetan peasants and herders, he said, rose13 percent to 3,589 yuan last year.
He said Tibet would again target 12-percent GDP growth this year, and increase spending on sectors involving people's livelihoods. The net per capita income of farmers and herders is expected to top 4,000 yuan.
On Thursday, an official with the regional treasury announced a2.3 billion yuan fund to improve the quality of people's lives this year. The amount was 38.6 percent higher than last year.
The money would be spent to create jobs, increase pensions, ensure adequate medical services, build affordable homes for the poor and provide food and shelter for the homeless children and beggars, the official said.
Special Report: Focus on Tibet
