Western China - news and development

JSCh · Jan 10, 2017

Xinjiang aims for 100,000 new textile jobs in 2017
Source: Xinhua 2017-01-10 13:56:47

URUMQI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a major cotton production base in northwest China, is aiming to create more than 100,000 new textile jobs in 2017, through intensive processing projects such as garment manufacturing.

Yin Xiaodong, an official in the region's textile industry, said Monday that the number would account for two-thirds of planned new jobs in the region's industrial sector in 2017, or a quarter of all new jobs.

A total of 112,300 workers were newly recruited in the textile sector in the region in 2016, which accounted for over 50 percent of new industrial employment in the region, Yin said.

According to figures released at the regional conference on economy and information technology last week, total investment in the textile sector reached nearly 65 billion yuan (9.39 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016. Annual cotton spinning capacity was 15 million spindles, up 150 percent year on year.

Yin estimated investment in the industry in the past three years exceeded 90 billion yuan, equivalent to the total from 1978 to 2013.

Xinjiang produces about 60 percent of China's raw cotton.

The State Council issued a guideline in June 2015, which supported the textile and garment industry in Xinjiang and hoped to increase local employment and boost exports.

JSCh · Jan 13, 2017

Fridge is no novelty in Tibet, but how it is delivered is
Source: Xinhua | 2017-01-13 14:30:01 | Editor: huaxia

Delivery men arrive at Medog. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

For days, neighbors and friends have been visiting Lhagye's home -- just to have a look at his new refrigerator.

It is not the machine itself that draws the visitors, but how Lhagye has got it. The fridge was delivered to Lhagye's home in Medog, Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China from Chengdu, almost 4,000 km away in neighboring Sichuan Province.

Nobody in Medog had ever purchased a major appliance this way before.

Lhagye's brother shows the order of the fridge on his cellphone. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

Early in December, online shopper Lhagye was surprised to discover that Medog, China's last county to have a highway link, had been classified as "reachable" in e-commerce giant JD.com's logistics system.

So he ordered a fridge for 699 yuan (101 U.S. dollars). Eleven days later, it arrived at his door.

Lhagye's brother receives the fridge. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

"It's not like we've never seen a fridge before. It's just no one had ever sent anything this size to Medog, no matter how big the company," says Lhagye, who still finds it hard to believe.

Road that leads to Medog. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

Medog is surrounded by high mountain ranges and did not have a permanent road access until 2013.

From Chengdu to Lhasa then to Medog, the fridge has traversed some of the world's most rugged terrains, including mountains higher than 5,000 meters above sea level and the most dangerous sections of the Sichuan-Tibet highway.

Delivery truck on its way to Medog. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

It took five drivers 11 days to complete the delivery.

Delivery truck on its way to Medog. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

The county has three home appliance stores, but they have a limited range of supply and have no big brands. In addition, "the prices are almost 50 percent higher than those of the online stores," says Lhagye, an ethnic Moinba. "With JD's delivery, people in Medog are very excited. Many have asked me to help buy appliances online." Lhagye is a school teacher.

JSCh · Jan 13, 2017

Cont ->

Online shopping has become more popular in Tibet, thanks to the rapid development of the Internet and logistics.

Photo taken on Dec. 28, 2016 shows a delivery truck near Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak. (Xinhua/Wu Haoyi)

"People are now buying clothes, accessories and other things online. It may take a while, but no longer than around 10 days," says Yang Li, owner of a hotel in Medog.

Promotions by e-commerce providers can also spark shopping frenzies in Tibet as elsewhere in China.

The Potala Palace in Lhasa (Xinhua/Wu Haoyi)

"During the largest annual promotion this year, about 400 to 500 packages piled up in our outlet daily," says Zhang Qingjie, a JD delivery man who works for the Jokhang Temple area in Lhasa.

Tibet's booming delivery business has attracted other major service providers such as EMS. And now too, Tibetan products are carried to other parts of China and the world.

TaiShang · Jan 16, 2017

China eyes stronger economy for western regions
Xinhua, January 16, 2017

China has mapped out a plan to improve the economy, standard of living and environmental conditions to a "new level" in its western regions by 2020, the country's top economic planner said Monday.

The State Council has released the plan setting goals for the country's "go west" strategy for 2016-2020, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The government should complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in China's west by 2020, the NDRC cited the plan as saying.

Specific targets include sustained and healthy economic development, stronger innovation, more progress in industrial upgrading and infrastructure construction, as well as better environment and public services.

Major projects will be implemented to strengthen environmental protection, conserve energy and resources and improve disaster prevention and relief, according to the plan.

Efforts will also be made to reduce poverty and promote the opening up of regions along the Belt and Road.

The less-developed west presents difficulties for China's goals to eliminate poverty and achieve all-round moderate prosperity, but it also boasts huge potential for development, according to the NDRC.

China launched its "go west" strategy in 2000 to boost the economic development of 12 western provincial-level regions -- Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi and Qinghai.

Under the strategy, western regions enjoy support in infrastructure construction, foreign investment, environmental protection, education and staff retention.

From 2011 to 2015, China invested 2.7 trillion yuan (392 billion U.S. dollars) in 127 key projects in the west, according to the NDRC.

Altogether 12,000 km of railways and 215,000 km of highways were built in that period, while rural residents' access to safe drinking water and electricity was expanded.

During the period, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in western regions rose 10.5 percent annually on average, while the net income of rural residents grew 11.2 percent annually, outpacing the national growth by 0.2 percentage points and 1 percentage point respectively, according to the NDRC.

TaiShang · Jan 17, 2017

Xinjiang to build 9 new airports in 2017
Xinhua, January 17, 2017

Construction of nine new airports will start or be completed in 2017 in northwest China's Xinjiang Region, according to authorities Monday.

"Two new airports in counties of Shache and Ruoqiang will be completed and put into operation, while the airports of Korla City and Hotan City will enter operation after expansion," said Zhang Chunlin, director of the region's reform and development commission.

Zhang said that expansion or construction of the other five airports in the region would also begin in the year.

Preparatory work on a further seven new airports is also ongoing.

Xinjiang currently has 18 airports, the most of any province in China.

JSCh · Jan 20, 2017

Western regions see highest GDP growth, Tibet leads with 11.5 percent
By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 17:16, January 20, 2017

An economic growth rate list of 26 provincial-level regions in China has been released. According to the list, Tibet Autonomous Region, Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou province, all in the western regions of the country, are the three best performers with 11.5, 10.7 and 10.5 percent growth rates respectively. The three regions also set GDP growth rate goals for 2017 of no less than 10 percent.

The list shows that the GDP growth rates in 23 provinces are higher than 6.7 percent, while Beijing and Shanghai stand right at 6.7 percent. Provinces in western regions are seeing relatively high growth rates and maintaining momentum as they catch up to their eastern counterparts. Yunnan province is also among the top 10.

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Sichuan province slightly raised their goals for GDP growth rate based on the 2016 figures, with Ningxia increasing from 7.5 to 8 percent and Sichuan from 7 to 7.5 percent; most provinces are either maintaining or lowering economic goals for 2017.

Economic data for Shandong, Hainan and Jiangsu provinces will not be announced until February.

ahojunk · Jan 28, 2017

China to improve geological disaster prevention in Xinjiang
(Xinhua) 14:20, January 28, 2017

China will invest 50 million yuan (7.3 million U.S. dollars) over the next three years to improve geological disaster prevention in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

This year, the region, in northwest China, will be the subject of a comprehensive geological survey in five counties including Yecheng, Uqar and Shache in its south and west, said Wei Wenhui, head of the regional geological environment monitoring institute.

Geological disaster prevention networks will be built in the five counties to avoid casualties and property losses, said Wei.

About 60 percent of the region's total land is prone to disasters. Last year, the region suffered 65 geological disasters, causing direct economic losses of 290 million yuan.

On July 6, 2016, a landslide in a village in Yecheng killed 35 people. The residents have since been relocated.

*******

Good strategy to spend some money to protect its citizens.

.

ahojunk · Jan 29, 2017

Tibetans prepare for festival at market in Xigaze
2017-01-27 11:44 Xinhua Editor: Li Yan

A market vendor in Xigaze, Tibet, Jan. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

Jan. 25, 2017. Combo photo of snacks sold at a market in Xigaze, Tibet. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

Customers of copper ware at a market in Xigaze, Tibet, Jan. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

"Sheep head" used for sacrifice at a market in Xigaze, Tibet, Jan. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

Buying dishware at a market in Xigaze, Tibet, Jan. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

TaiShang · Feb 1, 2017

Western regions see highest GDP growth, Tibet leads with 11.5 percent

By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 17:16, January 20, 2017

An economic growth rate list of 26 provincial-level regions in China has been released. According to the list, Tibet Region, Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou province, all in the western regions of the country, are the three best performers with 11.5, 10.7 and 10.5 percent growth rates respectively. The three regions also set GDP growth rate goals for 2017 of no less than 10 percent.

The list shows that the GDP growth rates in 23 provinces are higher than 6.7 percent, while Beijing and Shanghai stand right at 6.7 percent. Provinces in western regions are seeing relatively high growth rates and maintaining momentum as they catch up to their eastern counterparts. Yunnan province is also among the top 10.

Ningxia Region and Sichuan province slightly raised their goals for GDP growth rate based on the 2016 figures, with Ningxia increasing from 7.5 to 8 percent and Sichuan from 7 to 7.5 percent; most provinces are either maintaining or lowering economic goals for 2017.

Economic data for Shandong, Hainan and Jiangsu provinces will not be announced until February.

Cyberian · Feb 2, 2017

Quite impressive. How fast is Xinjiang growing, the province that borders Pakistan? Would love to see a lot more economic activity between Sino-Pak than the paltry trade that's happening currently.

ahojunk · Feb 24, 2017

Beautiful scenery in Tibet
(People's Daily Online) 10:22, February 24, 2017

Photos show the beautiful scenery of Tibet, including a rainbow in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet Region, Namtso Lake and the starry sky of Ngari.

A beautiful scenery of Tibet, including a rainbow in Nyingchi Prefecture.

The starry sky of Ngari.

Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake

JSCh · Feb 25, 2017

Lhasa grants ‘rare to have’ permanent residence cards to 118 foreigners
(Global Times) 09:52, February 25, 2017

A foreigner shows his permanent residence card in Lhasa, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Feb.23, 2017. [Photo: chinatibetnews.com]

Over 100 foreign residents in Lhasa, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region were granted Chinese permanent residence, the world's hardest-to-get "green card."

According to Luo Jie, head of the division of exit-entry administration of Lhasa public security bureau, 118 foreigners who live in Lhasa obtained the permanent residence permits, the China News Service (CNS) reported on Wednesday.

A majority of foreign residents who live in Lhasa were born and raised here, but inherited their parents' nationality and live as relatives of local residents, Luo said.

These foreign residents face difficulties in entering and exiting China, renewing their papers, enjoying medical care, purchasing property, finding jobs and educating their children, the CNS said. The permanent residence permits will solve their problems.

Dawa, a Nepal national living in Lhasa, said that he was most concerned about medical insurance as he had to pay all the medical expenses himself, but now with the permanent residence permit, 80 percent of the expenses can be reimbursed.

Deng Jun, deputy head of the Lhasa public security bureau, said that a permanent residence permit shows our recognition of their identity, which has enhanced the relationship between China and other countries, said the report.

China's permanent residence permit is famous for being difficult to obtain and rare to have. The card, which has a validity of 10 years, can be used as a form of identification by foreigners in lieu of their passport for purposes such as buying a train ticket or booking a hotel room.

To qualify for a green card, a candidate has to either be a "high-level foreign expert helping with China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress," make an outstanding contribution to the country, invest over $500,000 in China or have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals.

China began to allow permanent residence in 2004, but from 2008 to 2014, only 7,356 foreigners were granted permanent residence cards, based on recommendations from ministries or provincial governments. However, 1,576 foreigners gained Chinese permanent residence in 2016, an increase of 163 percent from the previous year.

ahojunk · Feb 27, 2017

Spectacular views of Tibet's Pangong Lake
(People's Daily Online) 17:11, February 24, 2017