Since 1994, Shigatse in southwest China's Tibet has welcomed 3,842 Aid-Tibet projects from four paired provinces and two businesses, receiving more than 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion US dollars) in aid funds and welcoming 1,504 Aid-Tibet cadres.

It was learned from a press conference held by the Tibet Autonomous Region Government Information Office on December 12 that from 1994 to 2018, there have been 1,582 projects, 4.518 billion yuan (0.655 billion US dollars) in aid funds, and 493 Aid-Tibet cadres from east China's Shanghai; 1,355 projects, 3.818 billion yuan (0.554 billion US dollars) in aid funds, and 508 Aid-Tibet cadres from east China's Shandong Province; 356 projects, 927 million yuan (134.4 million US dollars) in aid funds, and 241 Aid-Tibet cadres from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province; 297 projects, 780 million yuan (113.1 million US dollars) in aid funds, and 238 Aid-Tibet cadres from northeast China's Jilin Province; 133 projects, 278 million yuan (40.3 million US dollars) in aid funds, and 12 Aid-Tibet cadres from the Bao Steel Group (now the Baowu Group Coperation Limited); and 119 projects, 135 million yuan (19.58 million US dollars) in aid funds, and 12 Aid-Tibet cadres from the Sinochem Group.

With the help of four Aid-Tibet paired provinces and cities and two businesses, the economy and society of Shigatse has ushered in a period of rapid development. The regional GDP increased from 590 million yuan (85.55 million US dollars) in 1994 to 21.63 billion yuan in 2017. Fixed assets for the whole society increased from 80 million yuan to 37.54 billion yuan (3.14 billion US dollars), and the per capital annual income of farmers and nomads increased from 579 yuan (83.96 US dollars) to 9,225 yuan (1337.69 US dollars).

In addition to strengthening projects and funding assistance, the four provinces and cities and two businesses have continued to enhance intellectual aid, sending 243 outstanding professional and technical personnel to key areas and important positions to further deepen the group-style educational and medical aid.

Xu Xiangguo, executive deputy mayor of Shigatse City, said that in the next five years, there will be more than 300 aiding projects for Shigatse, an estimated investment of 5.6 billion yuan (0.8 billion US dollars), and they will continue to invest 80 percent of funds in the grassroots level and in people's livelihoods.

Editor: Tommy Tan.