Nikkei:

My question is about the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Tibet autonomous region. What will the total investment be during this period? How many investments will be added compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan period? What are the key areas of investment? Thank you.

Qizhala:

I'm glad to answer your question. As Mr. Wu mentioned just now, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the work concerning Tibet and care for people of all ethnic groups in Tibet. General Secretary Xi Jinping also personally planned and deployed the seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work. The symposium drew up the blueprints for building a new modern socialist Tibet, providing the fundamental basis for us to formulate the 14th Five-Year Plan and set the long-range objectives through the year 2035. 

Tibet's main targets for economic and social development in the 14th Five-Year Plan period are as follows. We will work continuously to maintain overall social stability. We will firmly take the initiative in the overall battle against secession. We will work to further forge a strong sense of community among the Chinese people in Tibet. We will pursue new progress in the development of Tibetan Buddhism in the Chinese context. We will also work to maintain a sound momentum for economic growth. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in Tibet will reach or stay close to the national average; the main indicators of basic public services will stay close to the national average; the institutional framework for ecological conservation will be further improved; the strategic support capacity for border defense will be comprehensively improved; and the foundation of the Party's governance in Tibet will be further strengthened. As such, Tibet will work to ensure a good start for the new journey toward socialist modernization and basically achieve socialist modernization with the rest of China by the year 2035.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, central authorities planned to allocate an investment of 380.7 billion yuan in Tibet. The actual investment reached 393.7 billion yuan, accounting for 103.4% of the planned investment during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, which actually outstripped the overall projected target made by the central authorities. The achievements we made by carrying out the plans are just like what General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed at the seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work. Many farmers and herdsmen in the region now enjoy much better lives thanks to easier access to water, electricity, and transportation. The investment in infrastructure construction has a direct bearing on improving people's wellbeing. On May 16, the second passageway opened to traffic in Medog county, which was previously the last Chinese county to not have access to highways. In the past, it was quite hard to enter Medog county in winter. Then we built a highway in the county. However, there still remain traffic restrictions based on even- and odd-numbered license plates. By opening the second highway, it takes less than four hours from surrounding areas with altitudes of 1,200 meters to Linzhi, which has an altitude of 3,000 meters, making life for people of all ethnic groups more convenient.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we will see a significant investment increase compared to what we saw during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Investment during the 14tht Five-Year Plan period will mainly focus on four aspects. First, ecological conservation. Many major rivers originate in Tibet. Investment in ecological conservation should focus on fully implementing the philosophy for green development made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which is "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and so are ice and snow." This is a big investment. Second, we will also focus on people's well-being. We will work to strengthen weak links and narrow the gaps in people's livelihoods. Third, we will take stock of social governance. Tibet is a large region with a small population. We should increase investment in this regard. Fourth, we will work on the construction of the border areas. We will keep investing in this aspect and work effectively. Based on actual investment during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, we will maintain a relatively rapid growth of investment in infrastructure construction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, which is a fundamental investment. We firmly believe that, with the support from all ministries and people across the country, the investment in infrastructure construction during the 14th Five-year Plan period will play a pivotal role in advancing the economic and social development of Tibet. Tibet will also enjoy greater progress in terms of improving the environment and people's livelihoods, consolidating poverty alleviation achievements, and rural vitalization. Thanks.