Back home every evening, he watches the news program offered by the China Central Television Station at 7:00 PM. while eating supper with other family members. He also closely follows the stock quotes to seize opportunities for shares trading.

"I felt it is just like missing a nice meal without watching TV for a single day because whether my business prospers or not depends on information about domestic and world economic information," he said.

Wangdui set up a booth dealing with native products at Bargor Street in downtown Lhasa five years ago and has earned 70,000-80,000 yuan (about US$9,000) a year on average.

According to a recent sample survey in this capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, 79 percent of the 130,000 permanent residents in Lhasa are interested in current domestic and international events.

About 51 percent of the residents regard the central government policies on economic development in Tibet as their prime concern.

Nearly 20 percent of people surveyed pay close attention to international affairs and eight percent show keen interest in China's pending entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Zhaba, a 59 year old trader, said, "China's admission into the WTO will bring our businesses more opportunities and larger profits. I hope it comes at an early date."

Zhaba used to serve as an English teacher at Tibet University after completing his studies in the USA. He opened a handicraft shop after retirement. Most of his products, including Kadian, a kind of cushion made of wool and tapestry, go to the Unites States, Hong Kong and Macao.

The most popular topic in Tibet now is the commencement of construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway within the year, which was approved by the central government recently.

The railway, 1,100 km in length, to be completed within six years, will link up Golmud, a traffic hub in Qinghai Province, with Lhasa, and afterwards, it will be extended to Shigaze and Linzhi in Tibet, as well as Yunnan Province.

"The railway will bring to Tibet modern concepts and living styles," said Lobsang, a local resident, at a tea house, described by local people as the "source of news".

"It's a long-cherished hope of people in Tibet to travel by train. The rail is sure to bring a drastic change in our life. But Tibetans' religious beliefs will always exist in Tibet," said 31-year-old Nyima Cering, who serves as a guide for foreign tourists and takes charge of daily affairs at the Johkang Monastery, where the statue of Sakyamuni is enshrined.

"Radio helps me to know what's happening in China and the world, which makes it convenient for me to communicate with tourists from afar. My greatest desire is to be a bridge between Buddhists in and out of China," said Nyima Cering, who speaks Tibetan, standard Chinese and English.

Currently, Tibetans have easy access to information. The "Tibet Daily", "Tibetan Commerce News", "Lhasa Evening News" and "Reference News" are the major source of news for the majority of local residents.

People in Lhasa can receive programs offered by more than 40 TV channels. Over 90 percent of Tibetan people have access to radio

broadcasts. The number of Internet surfers in Tibet has surpassed 5,000 and is climbing at a fast pace.

Baima Qoi, a Tibetan sociologist, cited close contact with people of different regions and a fast work and life pace as the major reason for today's general trend of devoting much attention to current events.

(03/27/2001)