Railway 'will not cause settlers to flood in' (China Daily) Updated: 2006-07-14 08:39
The newly opened railway that has linked Tibet Autonomous Region with the
rest of the country for the first time will not bring an influx of permanent
settlers to the plateau, the region's vice-chairman has noted.
Wu
Yingjie, also a top publicity official of the regional government, made the
comments recently in response to a question by a foreign journalist over whether
immigrants would flood in and destroy the plateau's ecology with the launch of
the railway.
"Tibet's unique natural conditions make it impossible for
Han people and people from other ethnic groups to settle down here," said
Wu.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world's highest, opened on July 1 and
promises easier transport, enhanced communication and economic progress to
the autonomous region.
Yet some people overseas have voiced
concern over an influx of settlers.
Wu said there are people from various
ethnic groups working in Tibet. "They're helping with Tibet's construction.
Their efforts in medical, public health, education and other sectors are aimed
at bringing the Tibetans closer to modern civilization and improving the quality
of local people's life.
"The Tibetans and the other 55 Chinese ethnic
groups are members of one big family. "It's natural for them to conduct
exchanges freely."
Fifty years ago, Wu said, Tibet was an isolated land
with a population of 960,000 and almost negative population growth.
"Today, its population has expanded to 2.7 million, with Tibetans
accounting for 95 per cent," he said. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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