In response to the question raised by a reporter from the Neue Zurcher Zetung about how to provide houses to nomads, Hao pointed out that the central government has been implementing an affordable housing project in Tibet since 200, in an attempt to improve the living conditions of local farmers and herdsmen. It focuses on the renovation of herdsmen's houses, nomad settlements and relocation of residents from impoverished areas.

So far, 80 percent of local farmers and herdsmen suffering from bad living environments in the past have moved into safe and comfortable houses, and the majority of the nomads have settled down. Hao told reporters about what he saw and heard when he conducted a social survey in Tibet. He said that the farmers and herdsmen-oriented affordable housing project has been funded by the central government and supported by all of the farmers and herdsmen in Tibet. It has greatly improved the living environment of the local people.

At present, many nomads have not only built comfortable and beautiful houses, but also purchased household appliances and furniture. Now, children can go to schools and senior citizens can live a happy life at different settlements. Young people graze animals on hilltops in summer and return to the settlements in winter. To sum up, the settlement-related policy is supported in pasturing areas because it can meet the local people's needs. Hao added that Tibet will formulate more policies to satisfy local people's new demands for houses during the 12th Five-Year Plan period.

In response to a question raised by a Columbia Broadcasting System reporter about environmental protection in Tibet, Hao said that Tibet has made notable progress in ecological construction and environmental protection during the 10-year western development period because it has emphasized on economic development and environmental protection at the same time and carried out a strategy of sustainable development in an all-around way.

Over the past years, the central government has been increasing its investment in environmental protection in Tibet. In 2009, a plan for the protection and construction of the ecological zones in Tibet was approved at a State Council conference. According to the plan, the central government will invest an additional 1.6 million yuan in ecological environment protection and construction in Tibet. Currently, the total area of Tibet's nature reserves is 410,000 square kilometers, accounting for one-third of China's total. Meanwhile, the water quality of all rivers flowing through Tibet is up to the level-two standard for surface water, and the air quality is also satisfying in 99 percent of cases.

This year, the central government held the Fifth Conference on Tibet-Related Work, which laid out the ecological environment protection strategy in Tibet and set the goal of maintaining an excellent ecological environment in the region. The CPC Committee of Tibet and the local government will enact more plans for the purpose of protecting the environment in Tibet.

According to sources, a total of 22 reporters from the China offices of foreign media groups such as the New York Times, Reuters and BBC are now participating in an activity titled "Foreign Reporters Tour Western China." They arrived in Lhasa first and will then go to other provinces in western China.

By People's Daily Online
Additional support provided by LOTO

（Editor：叶欣）