China's central government and various provincial authorities have provided plentiful aid to Tibet, which plays a key role in promoting the social and economic development of Tibet.

Zhang Qingli, acting secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remark at a work conference held recently in Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

"Without support and aid from the State, Tibet would have no access to progress," Zhang said.

Statistics showed that during the period of the country's 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005), Tibet reported a fiscal revenue of 5.246 billion yuan (US$655.75 million) and investment totaling 71.953 billion yuan (US$8.99 billion).

Nevertheless, Tibet's large deficit spending during the period was balanced due to financial aid from the central government and various provinces and municipalities.

Starting from 1994, the central government carried out a 10-year program providing the ethnic region with financial aid from a dozen of inland provinces across China.

Meanwhile, officials and technologists from other parts of the nation flocked to work in Tibet, joining in the local social and economic development.

The central government poured huge amount of investment in a total of 117 infrastructure projects, including the world-famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Hundreds of other projects were funded by provinces and municipalities across the country.

About 1,900 officials and experts from some 17 provinces and municipalities and 59 ministries have exerted full support to help local ethnic people gain an access to wealthy life.

From 2001 to 2005, the region experienced its fastest development in economy. The production output during the period reached a year-on-year growth rate of 12 percent or above.

According to Zhang, the per capita net income of Tibetan farmers also kept a double-digit increasing rate during the five years.

In the coming five years, Tibet will focus on a series of development projects to further improve living conditions of local residents and increase their incomes with more investment, technological support and specialized personnel from inland areas, Zhang added.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2006)