The Tibetan leg of the controversial 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay is a "golden" development opportunity, according to the region's official.

China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since People's Liberation Army troops occupied the region in 1950 and has vowed to bring economic prosperity to the impoverished region.

But critics say Beijing's development drive, punctuated by last July's opening of a railway link to Lhasa, the region's capital, is a ploy to undermine Tibetan autonomy and cultural identity.

Related readings: Record growth in Tibet: official Tibet in best ever period of development: official Railway-linked Tibet vexed on inadequate services Tibet to grant allowance to elderly people Moderate quake rattles Tibet, no casualty reported China trains Tibetan students for Tibet's growth Documentary sheds new light on Tibet

Last week, Zhang to a "living Buddha" and a "parent" to Tibetan "children" in an online forum touting the region's economic growth.

Beijing Olympic officials have said the torch will enter Tibet after ascending the southern slope of Mount Everest -- known in China by its Tibetan name, Qomalangma -- in Nepal.

The final schedule of the torch relay, which must be approved by the International Olympic Committee, will be released next month, a government official said last week.

Zhang dismissed concerns about the torch relay's ecological impact, highlighted by local media reports that blamed soaring numbers of tourists and mountaineers for damage to the mountainous region's fragile environment.

"How can the Olympic torch relay harm the ecological environment of Tibet?" said Zhang, flagging a publicity campaign to promote local authorities' green credentials.

The torch relay remains a diplomatic minefield for Beijing Olympic officials, who have also stated their desire for self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, to be included in the torch relay.