Tibet Autonomous Region will speed up the exploitation of mineral resources to make it a pillar industry in coming five years.
Geologists have verified mineral resources worth 650 billion yuan at 1,800 sites in Tibet. The reserve of 17 kinds of minerals are in the forefront of the country.
At present, the output value of minerals makes up only 4 percent of the gross domestic product of Tibet. The regional government will increase input in mineral exploration, seek foreign investment, introduce the market-oriented system and build a complete system for mineral resources development and management in the 2001-2005 period.