Modernization: A Necessary Choice for Tibet

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

 ◆ Modernization: A Necessary Choice for Tibet

Chinese experts of Tibetology said here Wednesday that the Tibet Autonomous Region should strive to be in step with the modern world by the year 2050.

They were speaking at an ongoing symposium on Ways for Realizing Modernization in Tibet and other regions inhabited by Tibetans in the country. The symposium is being held in this capital of southwest China"s Sichuan Province.

Experts said that Tibet should take care to achieve rapid development while also preserving the unique characteristics of the ethnic groups and the land in this region.

According to Tibet"s development plan, the region"s per capita gross domestic product is expected to rank among the highest in the country"s western region by 2005 and the region"s development is to reach the medium level of China by 2010.

Some 50 experts of Tibetology are attending the three-day symposium, jointly sponsored by Sichuan University, China Tibetology Research Institute under Tibet University and present-day research institute of Tibet"s Academy of Social Sciences.

Experts" opinions will be submitted to governments of various levels in Tibet for reference.

Tibet and other regions inhabited by Tibetans cover a total land area of 2.22 million square kilometers and have a total population of 4.6 million.

Experts said that in the course of modernization in these regions, more attention should be paid to issues regarding poverty,ecological environment, communications, education, religion, ethnic cultures, science and technology.

They pointed out that Tibet is currently showing comparatively slow economic development in west China, so it is imperative for the region to achieve extraordinary growth in a short period of time.

Since its liberation 50 years ago, Tibet has achieved marked progress in modernization with the support of the central government and other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of the country.

The central government of China has invested or allocated through fiscal subsidies more than 50 billion yuan to Tibet in the past 50 years, used for numerous construction projects. (Xinhuanet)