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China to invest $3 bn in Tibet; raises India's strategic worries
5 Sep 2008, 1949 hrs IST, Saibal Dasgupta,TNN
BEIJING: China's central government will invest $3 billion in 22 industrial projects in Tibet province, which borders India and Nepal. It is also pushing the local government to expand its international trade with over 50 countries across the world.
The local government said the move would "stimulate comprehensive economic development" of the relatively backward region in southwestern China.
But it is seen by some strategic thinkers in India as a means of empowering China's military capabilities, which has been hugely strengthened with the launch of the Qinghai-Tibet railway linking the region with the rest of China in 2006.
The government has announced plans to extent the rail link to Nepal in order to further develop trade and tourism links with the Himalayan kingdom. This is another move that will help extend China's military influence in the Himalayas besides helping Beijiing to keep a closer watch on Dalai Lama's supporters in Nepal, sources said.
The Communist Party views economic development as a means to quell political unrest and wean away the people from their affection towards the Dalai Lama, sources said. The government repeatedly points to the major development projects as signs of its concern for ethnic minorities of Tibet.
The government has also decided to offer tax rebates for both exports and imports in Tibet in order to push up the foreign trade, which has suffered severely since the Lhasa riots in March.
But Tibet's trade with next-door Nepal has grown by a dramatic 46 per cent to reach $262 million in the first seven months of this year. Nepal today accounts for 66 per cent Tibet's total trade volume.
The funds earmarked for industrial development will be invested over five years. It will be used in 10 mining projects, four construction and building material enterprises, three medicine and food plants, and construction of five industrial development zones,
The bulk of funds at $2.3 billion will go to the mining sector. Another $500 million will be spent on developing five industrial zones.
The projects are expected to employ 15,600 people and earn a net profit of $700 million by 2013, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Li Xia, the economic commission director of the Tibet Autonomous Region, as saying.
China to invest $3 bn in Tibet; raises India's strategic worries-China-World-The Times of India
5 Sep 2008, 1949 hrs IST, Saibal Dasgupta,TNN
BEIJING: China's central government will invest $3 billion in 22 industrial projects in Tibet province, which borders India and Nepal. It is also pushing the local government to expand its international trade with over 50 countries across the world.
The local government said the move would "stimulate comprehensive economic development" of the relatively backward region in southwestern China.
But it is seen by some strategic thinkers in India as a means of empowering China's military capabilities, which has been hugely strengthened with the launch of the Qinghai-Tibet railway linking the region with the rest of China in 2006.
The government has announced plans to extent the rail link to Nepal in order to further develop trade and tourism links with the Himalayan kingdom. This is another move that will help extend China's military influence in the Himalayas besides helping Beijiing to keep a closer watch on Dalai Lama's supporters in Nepal, sources said.
The Communist Party views economic development as a means to quell political unrest and wean away the people from their affection towards the Dalai Lama, sources said. The government repeatedly points to the major development projects as signs of its concern for ethnic minorities of Tibet.
The government has also decided to offer tax rebates for both exports and imports in Tibet in order to push up the foreign trade, which has suffered severely since the Lhasa riots in March.
But Tibet's trade with next-door Nepal has grown by a dramatic 46 per cent to reach $262 million in the first seven months of this year. Nepal today accounts for 66 per cent Tibet's total trade volume.
The funds earmarked for industrial development will be invested over five years. It will be used in 10 mining projects, four construction and building material enterprises, three medicine and food plants, and construction of five industrial development zones,
The bulk of funds at $2.3 billion will go to the mining sector. Another $500 million will be spent on developing five industrial zones.
The projects are expected to employ 15,600 people and earn a net profit of $700 million by 2013, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Li Xia, the economic commission director of the Tibet Autonomous Region, as saying.
China to invest $3 bn in Tibet; raises India's strategic worries-China-World-The Times of India