European Official lauds Tibet Economy

[grey boy 2]

European Official Lauds Tibet Economy

European official lauds Tibet economy
19 September 2009

European Economic and Social Commitee president Mario Sepi is optimistic that Tibet will enjoy significant economic growth. [Zhang Wei]



The Chinese government's efforts to develop the growing Tibetan economy impressed the president of the European Economic and Social Committee during his recent "fact-finding" visit to the autonomous region.

Mario Sepi, the leader of the consultative interest group with ties to the European Union, visited the Tibet autonomous region from Aug 11-15 and came away from his trip feeling "rather positive."

"I saw the booming economy in Tibet with a great amount of investment from the central government, especially in infrastructure construction," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "I also witnessed the strong will of the people to work and participate in this economic growth."

He did, however, add that he detected "a sense of uncertainty" in the populace after seeing a large police force in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet.

On March 14 last year, the city was consumed by a bloody riot that led to the deaths of at least 18 civilians and one policeman. Reports have said that 382 civilians and 241 police were injured.

"The consequences of the March 14 riot are still felt," Sepi explained. "I do have an impression that the police in the streets are not against people, but to fight against uncertainty."

He added that he did not witness any police officers abusing people. "You can see people and monks perform their own prayers freely in the streets and respecting their own forms of religious expression," Sepi wrote in his blog after paying a visit to the historic Jokhang Temple.

Sepi said that the city's uncertainty is likely linked to development. Some people think that economic growth may mean that Tibetans have to relinquish their culture and values, he said.


Related readings:
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Tibet tourism sets records in Aug, attracting 1.37 million
Tibet in history
Tibet in 50 Years



"But this is not true because strong cultures such as, I think the Tibetan one is, do not lose their identity," he said. "I think the perceptions from the West are based too much on ideology and prejudice."

Sepi added that the major objective of his trip was to try to shift attention from ideology to concrete problems concerning the everyday life of Tibetans based on social and economic issues.

The central government has been willing to develop the local economy to narrow the economic gap between Tibet and the rest of the country, Sepi claimed.

Sepi urged for more opportunities for Tibetans to shift their creative energy to more active engagements such as providing vocational training, motivating Tibetans to participate in economic growth instead of passively receiving money from the central government.

A local NGO handicraft development center, he said, managed to increase the revenues of certain rural families by nearly 10 times in just five years.

"It proves how people can be stimulated when given a chance," he said.

Sepi said he is optimistic about Tibet's future. "I believe Tibet will enjoy growth, in term of economy, and also in terms of relevance for China," he said.

 

[Nemesis]

European countries have become sell-outs to the just Tibetan cause. No amount of economic development in Tibet can change the cultural oppression being faced by ethnic Tibetans at the hands of the now majority Hans.

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on India topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

 

[grey boy 2]

European countries have become sell-outs to the just Tibetan cause. No amount of economic development in Tibet can change the cultural oppression being faced by ethnic Tibetans at the hands of the now majority Hans.

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on India topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

Dear; You are welcome to comment on any topic on this forum.

Just as i have the right to comment on any topic i wish.

So please don't be such a cry baby, grow up.

 

[Patriot]

European countries have become sell-outs to the just Tibetan cause. No amount of economic development in Tibet can change the cultural oppression being faced by ethnic Tibetans at the hands of the now majority Hans.

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on India topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

American and western countries have become sell-outs to the just Kashmir cause. No amount of economic development in Kashmir can change the cultural oppression being faced by kashmiris at the hands of the Indian Army.

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on China or Pakistan topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

 

[oct605032048]

tibet has nothing to do with the europeans, what they need to learn is to shut up.

 

[gogbot]

American and western countries have become sell-outs to the just Kashmir cause. No amount of economic development in Kashmir can change the cultural oppression being faced by kashmiris at the hands of the Indian Army.

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on China or Pakistan topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

Except there is one difference, Any media in the world can go to Kashmir and Talk to its people. If Kashmir is being subjugated as you say.
Show me a news report from this decade, that shows the supposed suffering and torture of the Kashmir people.
or a news report where the press was suppressed. from finding out about Kashmir

Whilst the same cannot be said for Tibet. The lack of free press makes China's claim on Tibet less relevant.
China even detained its own Hong kong journalists, in the recent Uighur riots.

 

[Nemesis]

See what i did there? Stop your flaming on China or Pakistan topics or you might get a taste of your own medicine.

Pray give me one instance of me personally flaming on a Chinese or a Pakistani topic. Before making responses it is advisable to have knowledge of the poster in question. Just a suggestion.

To Grey boy,

Yes, you're right, you are indeed free to comment on any topic on this forum. A privilege that your country sadly does not extend to its citizens. However, it would be most appreciated if you do not degrade every India-China related topic into useless rhetoric of Indian "slave mentality".

Secondly, as i understand that the PRC uses "Spin Doctors" on forums to promote Chinese propaganda -

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | China's internet 'spin doctors'

****************************************************************
China is using an increasing number of paid "internet commentators" in a sophisticated attempt to control public opinion.

These commentators are used by government departments to scour the internet for bad news - and then negate it.

They post comments on websites and forums that spin bad news into good in an attempt to shape public opinion.

Chinese leaders seem aware that the internet - the only public forum where views can be freely expressed - needs close attention.

China's Communist Party leaders have long sought to sway public opinion by controlling what the media can report.

That policy was extended to the internet, and many websites are blocked by a system sometimes dubbed the "great firewall of China".

Rumours and opinions

But cyberspace - where views can be expressed instantly and anonymously - is not as easy to control as traditional news outlets.

Comments, rumours and opinions can be quickly spread between internet groups in a way that makes it hard for the government to censor.

So instead of just trying to prevent people from having their say, the government is also attempting to change they way they think.

To do this, they use specially trained - and ideologically sound - internet commentators.

They have been dubbed the "50-cent party" because of how much they are reputed to be paid for each positive posting (50 Chinese cents; $0.07; £0.05).

"Almost all government departments face criticism that is beyond their control," said Xiao Qiang, of the University of California at Berkeley.

"There is nothing much they can do, other than organise their own spinning teams to do their public relations," said the journalism professor, who monitors China.

Spin machine

A document released by the public security bureau in the city of Jiaozuo in Henan province boasts of the success of this approach.

It retells the story of one disgruntled citizen who posted an unfavourable comment about the police on a website after being punished for a traffic offence.

One of the bureau's internet commentators reported this posting to the authorities within 10 minutes of it going up.

The bureau then began to spin, using more than 120 people to post their own comments that neatly shifted the debate.

"Twenty minutes later, most postings supported the police - in fact many internet users began to condemn the original commentator," said the report.

These internet opinion-formers obviously need to show loyalty and support to the authorities.

They also need other skills, as a document from the hygiene department in the city of Nanning in Guangxi province makes clear.

"[They] need to possess relatively good political and professional qualities, and have a pioneering and enterprising spirit," the document said.

They also need to be able to react quickly, it went on.

'Tens of thousands'

The practice of hiring these commentators was started a couple of years ago by local governments which found it hard to control public opinion.

They could not rely on Beijing to monitor and block every single piece of news about their localities, so they came up with their own solution.

Internet commentators have now become widespread, according to experts. Some estimate that there are now tens of thousands of them.

There are also reports that special centres have been set up to train China's new army of internet spin doctors.

Their job is more important than it would be elsewhere in the world.

"Politically, the internet is more important in China than in other societies because it's the only public space where people can express themselves," said Professor Xiao.

That is a point that has not escaped Chinese President Hu Jintao.

When he chatted online in an internet forum earlier this year he said it was important to set up "a new pattern of media guidance" for the internet.

China's teams of state-sponsored commentators have a lot of work ahead of them.
******************************************************************

So Grey, fess up, how much does the PRC pay you for your "Well informed" posts? A good job is it? Does it pay the bills?

 

[grey boy 2]

Nemesis; I stop reading your post when i saw BBC= Bullshit.

And like i said before if you preferred to think with your A@S rather

than your head, it eventually produce your stupidity.

As the result lead to your low IQ accustion; China buy out the

European Official to praise Tibet economy. But what can i expect

from someone with IQ of 81.

 

[Nemesis]

I stop reading your post when i saw BBC= Bullshit.

You are allowed to have that opinion. Allow me to differ.

And like i said before if you preferred to think with your A@S rather

than your head, it eventually produce your stupidity.

A little more coherent ravings please?

As the result lead to your low IQ accustion; China buy out the

European Official to praise Tibet economy.

Completely miss the damn point. Let me try to say this in a simpler way - If you flame every India related thread, be prepared to face similar consequences on Chinese threads. Understood? If not, you're completely hopeless.

But what can i expect

from someone with IQ of 81.

I detect hostility! Come now, don't get so angry. I really want to know how much the PRC is paying you? You see i am concerned about the welfare of all human beings, irrespective of where they come from. Is that so offensive?

 

[grey boy 2]

You are allowed to have that opinion. Allow me to differ.



A little more coherent ravings please?



Completely miss the damn point. Let me try to say this in a simpler way - If you flame every India related thread, be prepared to face similar consequences on Chinese threads. Understood? If not, you're completely hopeless.



I detect hostility! Come now, don't get so angry. I really want to know how much the PRC is paying you? You see i am concerned about the welfare of all human beings, irrespective of where they come from. Is that so offensive?

I think i am wasting my time on you !!!

I told you from my last post, any member on this forum have the

right to comment on any thread !!!

And nobody should make judgement on any member's comments

whether its appropriate except the MANAGEMENT of this forum.

What you are acting right now is pin point at a member for flaming

your so call Indians thread. There are only one kind of thread here,

which is call thread of Pakistan defence forum. Do you get it ?

 

[paritosh]

Tibet is a part of China our govt has recognized it...what the Chinese do with it is upto them totally...see if we don't want 'outsiders' commenting and disputing our 'internal' matters...we have to learn to do the same.