Tibet sets livelihood as first priority in economic work in 2010

11:17, December 29, 2009

The Tibet Autonomous Regional Government formulated its 2010 macro-economic policy with the conclusion of the annual regional economic work conference in Lhasa on Dec. 19.

The policy contains a number of focal points, such as the livelihood, investment, agriculture and animal husbandry and consumption, according to Tibet Daily.

Livelihood first priority

The regional government will give top priority to guaranteeing the livelihood of Tibetans and providing public services next year, which is also its consistent goal, according to Ai Juntao, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Finance Department.

In 2009, the government has spent 11 billion yuan bettering the livelihood of Tibetans and allocated another 11 billion yuan to develop Tibet's agriculture and rural areas, up 19 percent year on year.

In 2010, the government will try harder to improve Tibetans' livelihood and continue to speed up the development of agriculture, science and technology, education, health, culture and social security.

The regional economic work conference agreed that Tibet should make still greater efforts to build a new countryside by launching the affordable housing projects and projects in other areas. The government will build houses for 42,882 farmers and herders and earmark 300 million yuan to reinforce the newly-built affordable houses to cut earthquake-caused losses to a minimum.

Investment in key projects

Tibet's economy relies heavily on investment and consumption. Tibet will try to obtain more funding from the central government and invest more in key projects next year to achieve the goal set in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan(2006-2010).

Meanwhile, Tibet will accelerate construction of its infrastructure, according to the conference.

The Regional Government is expected to receive 22 billion yuan from the central government next year, with obtaining 77.88 billion yuan during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period as the target. Tibet's fixed asset investment will top 42.5 billion yuan next year, according to Jin Shixun, director of the Regional Development and Reform Commission.

【1】【2】