“62 Aid Projects”
“62 Aid Projects” undertaken by various provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions were determined in the third national conference for work in Tibet held in January 1994 in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Tibet Autonomous Region. The 62 Aid Projects were another kind of large-scale support from the whole country for the economic construction of Tibet following the 43 aid projects of 1985. The difference was that this time it was larger in scale and laid more emphasis on the basic projects leading to strengthened potential for the economic development of the region. The total investment of this group of projects is 2.300 million yuan, covering the whole region and benefiting infrastructures such as energy, traffic, post and telecommunications and agriculture, culture and education. Among them, there are 42 production projects, accounting for more than 70 percent of the total investment. Meanwhile, the Central Government still fully considered the improvement of the living environment of farmers and herdsmen and urban residents at the time of arranging the projects. After the ministries and commissions of the Central Government and the units for support have accepted the task of aiding Tibet, on one hand they established the Tibet-aiding work group immediately to prepare the implementation, operation and construction; on the other hand, they rapidly transferred experts, scholars in various fields to make up the keen-witted and capable, and efficient work group to go to Tibet for study. For the issue of the configuration of project software, staff training and follow-up management etc, the Tibet-aiding provinces and municipalities have exchanged opinions with the units receiving aid in Tibet and help them to make out the training plan for authorized personnel so as to ensure the staff placements of the project after building up to run the projects with full efficiency.
Classification of 62 Aid Projects (six major categories):
The first category was 11 municipal construction projects, which include Potala Square, Lhasa Ring Road, Water-supply Lines and Sewage system in Xigaze, reconstruction and expansion of the township roads in Shannan, Water-supply Lines and Sewage System in Shiquanhe River in Ngari, rooms building for institution in 37 poor counties and frontier counties, three frontier port construction, Nyingchi Hotel, office building for the Party Committee and the government of Tibet Autonomous Region, the conference center, and the complex building of Administration Institute of Party School in the autonomous region, Tibet Hotel in Beijing, construction of the municipal projects.
The second category was 12 construction projects for broadcast, television, culture, education and public health, including the Tibet Museum, Lhasa Xinhua Bookstore, receiving stations for broadcast and television using solar energy at the level of township, Xigaze Second Middle School, Nedong Middle School, the middle school in Lang County (Daicona middle school), the middle school in Gongjor County (Daishengzha Middle School), the middle school in Jiali County (Daizhada Middlc School), the Health Training Center of Tibet Autonomous Region, the Infectious Disease Hospital of the autonomous region, expansion of Tibetan Medicine, and In-patient Department of Lhasa People’s Hospital. The constructions of the projects of broadcast and television have improved the conditions for running schools, culture, education and the medical and public health conditions for farmers and herdsmen especially the construction of the solar energy TV receiving station at the level of township has linked farming and pasturing areas with external world, which has effectively shortened the distance betweenthe rural areas, and cities and towns.
The third category was agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, water conservancy construction projects, amounting to 8 projects and including the agricultural construction for agrotechnology popularization system, overall agricultural development of Yuqu River in Zugong County, aqueducts in Renbo County, Dongjiu Forest Farm (include Dongjiu Power Station), production and processing base of high-quality rape, production base for wool producing goats in northwest Tibet, Yi’ong tea factory (include Yi’ong Power Station), Manlha Water Control Project.
The fourth category was 10 construction projects of the factory, mines, including Shiankashan chrome iron ore in Shannan, Zacang Chaka boron magnesium ore in Ngari; Machala in Rewoge colliery, the movement of Cement Plant of Chamdo, processing factory for grain and oil in Conggar County, the processing factory of grain and oil in Nyingchi, technological transformation of the processing factory for grain and oil in Chamdo, the processing factory of wool in Naggu (Wool Combing Factory in Nagqu), transformation of rotary kiln of Lhasa Cement Plant. The construction project of mines and the factories has greatly supported the development of industries in Tibet, and made the total industrial output value in the whole region rise t0 930 million yuan in 1998 from 535 million yuan in 1994. Thus the industrial production has been improved to a new height.
The fifth category was 7 traffic and telecommunication construction projects, including the reconstruction of Lhasa-Gonggar highway, oil storage facilities of Gonggar Airport, the Lhaze-Zhongba section of China-Nepal Highway, construction of oil pipeline from Golmud Oil Plant to No.101 Oil Depots, the optical cable project from Lhasa to Xigaze, Lhasa Long-distance Telecommunication Building in western suburbs, 12 satellite communication earth stations. The construction of telecommunication projects has enhanced the transportation capacity of the important section of highways, and improved the level of communication of Tibet with the outside, and laid an important foundation for expanding the opening of Tibet to the outside world.
The sixth category was 14 projects of hydro-electric constructions, including the reconstruction of the Grade-three Woka River Hydraulic Power Station in Shannan, two Substations and one Power Transmission Project in Lhasa, the transformation of the power grid in Chamdo, the reconstruction project of Longjiu Geothcrmal Power Station in Ngari, hydraulic power station in Nyirong County, Grade One Hydraulic Power Station of Woka in Shannan, hydraulic power station in Denqen County, Songda Hydraulic Power Station in Mangkang County, hydraulic power station of Baqen County, Damba Hydraulic Power Station in Corcnmai County, Nangyi Hydraulic Power Station in Mailing County, Gyiagang Hydraulic Power Station in Xainzha County (including Xainzha gold mine). The construction hydro-electric projects has alleviated the pressure in power supply in Shannan, Xigaze, Qamdo and Ngari, partly solving the problem of supply power and provided basic energy guarantee for agriculture and animal husbandry, and the process of agricultural and animal products, and the development of the second and tertiary industry and the advantageous resources.
The 62 Aid Projects have become another monument in the minds of the people in Tibet. The heavy workload, rapid speed and high quality of many of these projects are unprecedented in the history of constructions in Tibet, which have played an important role in promoting the development of the economy and the society of Tibet. All projects have been built up and made available to the users at present, increasingly benefiting the society and the economy. The reconstruction of and addition to the Gonggar airport and Bamda airport and a group of image projects have been built up, which will serve as the window for publicity to and cultural exchange with the outside. They have improved the investment environment of Tibet and built more growth points of economy. Among the 62 Aid Projects, 60 projects have already been completed and obviously improved the backward infrastructure of Tibet, strengthened the economy in terms of self-reliance and sustainable development, and laid a good foundation for the farming and animal husbandry of Tibet to yield bumper harvests. In 2001, Tibet had seen the 14th bumper harvest in succession. The construction of infrastructure has also driven the development of the relevant industries and made the economy of Tibet develop in the direction of diversification, thus it has gradually shortened the distance between Tibet and the inland brother provinces and cities.
Most of the 62 Aid Projects have produced good social and economic benefits. The construction of the projects has played a vital role in improving the backwardness of the infrastructure of Tibet, such as traffic, energy, communication, etc., and the investment environment, developing the strong industry, improving the level of production and living standard, and keeping the social stability and consolidating the southwest borderland of the motherland. So far as the social benefit of the 62 Aid Projects is concerned, the construction of Potala Palace Square and the Second Middle School of Xigaze are the best, For example, the Potala Palace Sguare was built in 1995 with the investment of 114 million yuan. After the square has been built up, Potala Palace becomes more solemn, and majestic. The surrounding environment is neater, cleaner, grander and more beautiful. The square makes this ancient city, Lhasa, undergo a radical change. It has kept the unique views of Tibetan civilization integrated with modern appearance and endowed with delicacy and glamour. The wide, beautiful, grand Potala Palace Square has become a “window” for the people of Tibet to show their history and current situation. From 1995- 1998, various kinds of large or medium-sized gatherings and meetings have been held for 107 times on the square with the participation of 60, 000 persons. It has become the good destination of recreation, amusement and bodybuilding for citizens in Lhasa, thus achieving good social results. Other projects with good economic benefits are Naggu Wool Combing Factory, Lhasa Hotel, Bangna Zangbo Mine. The economic benefits concern the existence, development of built-up projects and also concern the roles played by these projects on the promotion of the economy and the society of Tibet. Take Naggu Wool Combing Factory as an example, it was built up and put into production in 1996 in Nagchu, where is the major area for the animal husbandry of Tibet. It produces 3,400 tons of wool per year, 200 tons of wools, 450 tons of yak’s fine hair. Through the processing of the livestock products, the development of the regional economy can be developed to help the herdsman shake off poverty and set out on the road to prosperity. In 1997 and 1998, this factory has made profit of nearly 300,000 yuan. In addition, there are still projects with outstanding comprehensive benefits in economy, socicty, ecology, etc., such as Base for wool-producing goats in Northern Tibet, Ring road of Lhasa, and In-patient Department of Lhasa People’s Hospital. Take the Wool Producing Goat Farm in Northern Tibet as an example, it is the only animal husbandry project among the 62 Aid Projects. The project covered Ritog, Gaize, and Gegyi in Ngari, Nyima, Bango, and Xainzha in Nagqu, Shuanghu Special Administrative District. Under the local natural and social conditions and through the long time natural and artificial selection, the germplasm resources of the wool-producing goats of Tibet have been formed, featuring good production of thin and soft wool with good gloss and toughness. The project district is the main producing area of Tibetan wool producing goats. The output value of the wool-producing goats account for more than 50 percent of that of animal husbandry. From 1994 to 1997, the construction task of this project had been basically completed. After the implementation of the project, the output value of animal husbandry in the 6 counties and one district covered by the project increased by 11.71 percent.
The revenue of the industry of wool producing goats had increased by 44.11 percent, The growth in earnings of wool was 48.97 percent and the growth of per capita earnings in wool producing goats was 37.54 percent. The area lies in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an average height of 4,500 meters above sea level. It is the highest land in the Tibetan region. The natural conditions there are very harsh and the ecological balance is easily damaged. Through the construction of meadows, rails and growing grass, the meadow degradation, alkalizing, and desertification have been controlled to a certain extent. The increased meadow vegetation have contributed to the alleviation of the contra diction between the raising of domestic animals and the growing of grasses; Through selection of wool producing goats. the local resources with potential have been developed and utilized, establishing the foundation for sustainable development.