--At a press conference during the Third Session of the Ninth NPC, Raidi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region, introduced to Chinese and foreign reporters the development of Tibet and answered questions on the leaving of the 17th Living Buddha Karmapa, the negotiation channel between the Central Government and the Dalai Lama and other issues of general concern.

Raidi first introduced the socioeconomic development in Tibet over the past year. Last year was an important year in the history of development of the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said. The region has made remarkable achievements in various undertakings, and remained social stability and ethnic unity. The people in Tibet have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the situation is excellent. Last year, the region yielded 10.335 billion yuan in GDP, a rise of 9.1 percent on the previous year, with the growth rate exceeding the national average for six years running. The economy of both agricultural and pastoral areas developed steadily, with production conditions improving significantly and the comprehensive development level ascending to a higher level. More than 85 percent of the flood-damaged projects were restored. The region' s grain output totaled 917,000 tons, recording a good harvest for the 12th year. The region basically achieved self-sufficiency in grain. New progress was made in the readjustment of the region' s industrial structures, cultivating a batch of new, special and name-brand products with Tibetan characteristics and good market prospects. The region' s gross industrial output value rose by 7.8 percent on the previous year. Tourism kept fairly fast growth, with the region hosting 448,000 domestic and overseas tourists for the whole year, up 12 percent on 1998. Fixed asset investment in the region totaled 4.9 billion yuan, and various key construction projects advanced smoothly. Last year saw further improvement in the people's living standards. The per-capita net income of farmers and herdsmen averaged 1,250 yuan, up 7.9 percent on the previous year, while the per-capita disposable income of urban residents reached 5,907 yuan, a rise of 8.6 percent on 1998.

The region has made headway in implementing the strategy of developing Tibet through science and education, making new progress in scientific, technological and educational undertakings. In 1999, the region's enrollment rate of school-age children reached 83.4 percent. The region fulfilled ahead of schedule the goal of enabling every county to have a middle school and every township to have a complete primary school and raising the enrollment rate of school-age children to 80 percent by the turn of the 20th century. The brilliant culture of the Tibetan ethnic group now shines with new splendor through the effort to scientifically inherit, protect and develop the traditional culture. The region has comprehensively and correctly carried out the Party' s nationality and religious policies, effectively protecting the religious people's freedom of religious belief and other legitimate rights and interests.

The implementation of the strategy on the large-scale development of the western region is a rare historical opportunity for the development of Tibet, said Raidi. We will firmly seize this good opportunity. Under the guideline set at the third central discussion meeting on the work of Tibet for the development of Tibet in the new historical period, we will emancipate our minds, renew our conceptions and cast away conservatism. We will expand opening-up and formulate practical plans in line with the actual conditions of Tibet. In this way, we will strive to make super-high progress and a great leap forward in the process of the large-scale development of the western region. Tibet will base its participation in the large-scale development of the western region on constantly improving the material and cultural well-beings of the people of various nationalities in Tibet. During the development of the western region, Tibet will lay the focus of its development on expediting the construction of infrastructure facilities, intensifying ecological conservation, taking the road of sustainable development, and energetically developing high-yield, high-quality and high-efficiency agriculture and animal husbandry. It will readjust and optimize its industrial structures, develop advantageous industries, energetically develop scientific, technological and educational undertakings, and try every means to cultivate and introduce all kinds of professionals at various levels, in an effort to enhance the overall quality of the entire population.

Tibet is abundant in natural resources. In recent years, the region has achieved noticeable results in the construction of transportation, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructure facilities. This helps further improve the region's investment environment. Raidi sincerely welcomes far-sighted people at home and abroad to make investment in and work in cooperation with Tibet to seek joint development.

Raidi also told the attendants the true facts of the 17th Living Buddha Karmapa's leaving. According to him, the 17th Karmapa was enthroned in Lhasa' s Tsurphu Monastery in September 1992 with the approval of the Bureau of Religious Affairs of the State Council. Both the Central Government and the Tibet autonomous regional government showed kind attention to Karmapa in his education and upbringing. Many special tours were arranged for him to visit interior areas and all parts of Tibet. Karmapa was provided with fairly good environment for study and daily life in the Tsurphu Monastery. There are no restrictions to religious activities in the monastery. During each of the major annual religious services hosted by the monastery, the local government specially assigned people to maintain order there, in a bid to ensure the smooth process of the religious activities. All this shows the Party' s religious policy is correct and authentic. A short time ago, Karmapa and some of his men left the monastery. He left a letter saying that his leaving was not meant to betray the motherland, the nation, the monastery and the leaders.

Raidi said the Dalai clique and some overseas forces always attempted to control and make use of Karmapa to attain their ulterior motives. We are firmly against any person who attempts to make use of the Karmapa issue to engage in any form of political activities to undermine China's unity, said Raidi.

Raidi continued that recently some overseas media reported that after Karmapa's leaving, his parents and the lamas in the monastery were arrested. This is totally groundless and has ulterior motives. Recently, Karmapa' s parents said they are very grateful to the Party and Government's kind attention shown to Karmapa and his family over the past many years. Now, they are leading a happy life in their hometown. The lamas of the Tsurphu Monastery are not arrested, and the order in the monastery has been kept normal.

When asked whether there is a smooth negotiation channel between the Central Government and the Dalai Lama, Raidi said the negotiation channel remains unimpeded. The Central Government' s policy toward the Dalai Lama has been consistent and clear-cut, namely, the Dalai Lama must abandon his position on Tibet independence and halt all activities aimed at splitting the motherland, openly recognize that Tibet is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, Taiwan is one province of China, and the People' s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

On the so-called reincarnation of the Panchen Lama chosen by the Dalai Lama, Raidi said that on May 14, 1995, the Dalai Lama, in violation of religious practices and rites, willfully announced the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. The Chinese Government immediately declared it unlawful and invalid. This child is an ordinary boy of China. He is now studying at a primary school where he receives good education and is doing well with his studies. He is leading a happy life.

On the impact of the amendment to the Law on Regional National Autonomy, Raidi said it is an important part of China' s political system to practice regional national autonomy in areas where ethnic groups live in compact communities. It is a basic policy to solve China' s ethnic problems. The law conforms to Tibet's reality and has promoted the development of various undertakings in Tibet. With constant social progress and the establishment of a socialist market economy, the law will be amended and supplemented. But, there will not be major changes in the basic principles, to the benefit of the economic and social development in ethnic minority areas.