Tibet, Xinjiang to Rid of Poverty by Year-End

Deputies from Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions to the on-going Third Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) said today that poverty- stricken people in the two western China regions would have adequate food and clothing this year.

Poverty would basically be eradicated by the year-end, said top regional officials.

Legqog, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, said that another 50,000 people will be relieved of poverty this year.

Last year, the region lifted 50,000 people out of their plight.

Abdul'ahat Abudurixit, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that Xinjiang is planning to basically solve the food-and-clothing problem for 300,000 people living in poverty.

Tong Fu, member of the NPC Standing Committee and vice-chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the poverty-relief programs in the two regions represent a major progress in China.

He said that in protecting human rights, China, as a developing country, must first guarantee the rights to live and develop.

Legqog said that this year the per-capita income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet is expected to reach 1,350 yuan (about 163 U.S. dollars).

He said that the government will try to help 2,000 households move to low elevation areas from highland.

The natural conditions in Tibet are harsh. Legqog said Tibet will invest a record six billion yuan to facelift its communications, power and telecommunications facilities with the aim of spurring local economic growth and helping farmers and herdsmen get rich.

In the past two decades, the central government has earmarked over 2.6 million yuan for 105 construction projects in Tibet, which has greatly improved the region's infrastructure.

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