Railway 'will not cause settlers to flood in'
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-14 07:11
LHASA: 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.
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