SCIO briefing on economic and social development of Tibet autonomous region
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 4, 2021
Russia Today:
Could you elaborate a bit more on the poverty alleviation projects implemented in Tibet? How many Tibetan people have shaken off poverty over the past ten years? What is the per capita income in Tibet? Also, what infrastructure projects will soon be launched in the region? What are the region's strengths in attracting investment, including foreign investment? Thank you.
Wu Yingjie:
Thank you. As we know, due to objective conditions, Tibet has a relatively large poor population and a higher poverty headcount ratio. Thus, poverty alleviation is of great importance in the region. General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee have paid great attention to this issue in Tibet, identifying the region, in the first place, as the only provincial-level contiguous area of dire poverty amongst all areas of extreme poverty in China. Thanks to the care of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the support from the CPC Central Committee, Tibet has seen uniquely preferential policies, including financial support and projects.
Second, in accordance with the requirements of the CPC Central Committee, we have carried out both similar and different poverty reduction work compared with other regions. Similar to other regions, our Party secretaries of five levels (provincial, municipal, county, township and village) have taken poverty reduction as the top priority. What's different is that based on such a five-level scheme, we also set up poverty reduction command centers at each level, where commanders lead their staff members to implement relevant work with the full support of various departments.
In addition, based on the central government's requirements of assuring adequate food and clothing for those living in poverty and guaranteeing their access to compulsory education, medical care, and safe housing, we have provided more financial resources and projects to the poor as a matter of priority. In terms of other efforts, we also make full use of assistance projects in Tibet, applying 80 to 90% of their financial resources to reducing poverty.
We have been making efforts in the following aspects. First, we have strengthened the support of industries, introduced incentive policies, prioritized employment, provided support via assistance projects, and strengthened social security to better meet people's basic needs. Of course, there are many other efforts in this regard, and frontline officials and CPC members have all been dedicated to the course.
Second, all the 628,000 poor people in the Tibet autonomous region have been lifted out of poverty. Of this total, 266,000 people have been relocated from inhospitable areas, which is due to the special favorable policies introduced by the central government. All 74 impoverished counties have shaken off poverty. We also want to share with you that Tibet has achieved excellent performance in the central government's rigorous evaluation for poverty alleviation. We have been one of the regions to receive excellent evaluation remarks over the past five years. In terms of per capita income, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Tibet amounted to 14,598 yuan in 2020, up by 12.7% year-on-year, achieving a two-digit growth for 18 consecutive years. The growth rate has been basically kept above 13% for the past five years, ranking among the top in China.
Third, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, with the assistance of the CPC Central Committee and all Chinese people, Tibet will work in accordance with the requirements of the central government to carry out projects concerning new infrastructure. As we know, the world-renowned Sichuan-Tibet Railway project has started construction in a bid to promote the development of Tibet. In addition, the region's utilization of water resources has become a national focus and is in the process of analysis. We are also working on new infrastructure projects to boost industries that leverage local strengths in terms of rural revitalization.
Fourth, in terms of foreign investment, Tibet has been provided with uniquely preferential policies since its peaceful liberation. This includes many policies that apply to both domestic and foreign businesses. We welcome foreign investment to start businesses in Tibet. Of course, due to the special objective conditions in Tibet, although it is our great hope to attract foreign investment, the reality of our utilization of foreign capital is not good enough currently compared with other regions. We need to improve our conditions accordingly to better make use of foreign capital. Currently, utilization of foreign investment has reached about $400 million. Thank you.
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