Cultural Relics
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A CHINESE WEEKLY OF NEWS AND VIEWS Vol. 30, No. 47 November 23-29, 1987 Three Years of Autonomy Law HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK BeijingR^ir VOL'.'30. NO, 47 NOV, 2^-2'). mi CONTENTS Pitfalls for Developing Countries NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 Implementing Regional • Developing countries have to watch out for unrealistic Autonomy Law political and economic demands as they move ahead and EVENTSARENDS 5-9 open to the outside world (p. 14). ,7hao Meets Jupanc!>e Journalists Starting Point in Highway Relics, Resources and People Network Population Clro^.s^ 6.3" « • Reform and open policy have made their mark on the In f> Years •Science lirnis I'orge "thousand-lake" province Hubei in central China. The Ahead province's many historic and scenic sites are once more Beijing ^'oiuh Seek shining out and its abundant resources, untapped for Night Ltle thousands of years, are being turned into tangible wealth. INTERNATIONAL 10-13 More importantly, active efforts are being made to tap the . UN: So\ict Union Suffers province's intellectual resources (p. 23). Diplomatic Blow Arab Summit: Leaders Work To Promote -Xrah Linil> Japan: Takeshita Creates Implementing the Autonomy Law A Balanced (.abinei Tunisia; Power Shift • The Law on National Regional Autonomy, which Wins Approval came into effect on October 1, 1984, fully demonstrates Argentina: C>on/,aio/'s Visit Raises <ireal f\\f>ecuaions the state's respect for minority peoples" right to administer their own affairs. Implementation of this law Oeilberations of China's has led to the faster economic and cultural development 2nd Revolution (III): of the autonomous areas. Problems remain, and ways are New Conflicts Emerge being sought to solve them (p. 4). With Development 14 Relics, Resources and Peoi»le IS A Dialogue on Tibet (ill): Tibet: Autonomy & Renoration Regional Autonomy and Special Policies 21 • In this issue are the third parts of two series on Tibet — Profile of Tiljet (iil) Dialogue on Tibet and Profile of Tibet. This week's Cultural Relics: Repair & Surveying 23 dialogue between our correspondents and officials of the Political Bureau Veterans and State Nationalities Commission deals with the autonomy Their Resumes 25 law and related issues (p. 21). The profile outlines the Tibet (pictorial) centrefold drive to repair major monasteries and key cultural sites 800KS 29 which is being funded by huge state allocations (p. 23). BUSINESS/TRADE 30-31 CULTURE/SCIENCE 32-33 COVER: i \eM:ni; shopp iii; in Wuhan. Cai Haifeng Published every Monday by Subscription rates (1 yeai) USA US$24.00 General Editorial Office Tel: 893860 BEIJING REVIEW English Dept Tel: 831,5599 Ext 546 Australia A.$24.00 Canada Can.$23.00 ?4 BaiwanzhLi.Tnq Road, Distributed by China International Book New Zealand NZ.$33.00 Beijing lOOO:^/ Trading Corporation (GUOJI SHUDIAN) The People b H. public r'-u.t P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China UK £13.00 •1 NOTES FROM THE EDITORS •••BTIfiimf ¥ Implementing Regional Autonomy Law by An Zhiguo hina has a population of 1.7 vinces inhabited by sizeable Tibet Autonomous Region, and • Cbillion of which the Han are in minority populations have for• 50 percent for the Xinjiang, the overwhelming majority while mulated provisions on implement• Ningxia, Inner Mongolian and the 55 minority nationalities have ing the law. The various Guangxi autonomous regions, a combined population of 85 autonomous areas have been and Yunnan, Guizhou and million people. The government of drawing up their own regulations, Qinghai provinces — all with a the People's Republic has always and 20 such areas have already put large number of minority people. adhered to the principle of them into effect. Financial subsidies have been equality, unity and common A large number of minority increasing. In the last three years, prosperity for all nationalities. nationality cadres have been state subsidies to the five Three years ago, on October 1, assigned to government organs in autonomous regions and Yunan, 1984, the law on national regional the autonomous areas, where a Guizhou and Qinghai provinces autonomy became effective, fully great majority of their leaders are have increased at an average demonstrating the state's respect of the local nationalities. In the annual rate of 10 percent. In 1986 for the minority peoples' right to Tibet Autonomous Region, for state subsidies there amounted to administer their own affairs. example, the proportion of 7.9 billion yuan. In addition, the state continues to allocate them This law not only defines the Tibetans and other minority special allowances and grant them relations between national auto• cadres has increased from 33.3 low-interest loans. nomous areas and the state, and percent in 1962 to 80 percent at University and secondary tech• among the various nationalities present, totalling over 40,000 nical school entry requirements within the autonomous areas, but people. Of the 41 Party and for minority nationality students also lays down a series of specific government leaders at the regional are lower than for Han students. provisions on speeding up the level, 31, or 77 percent of the total, In 1986 there were over 100,000 economic and cultural develop• are Tibetans and other minority minority naUonality students in ment of the autonomous areas, on cadres. universities, a 46.2 percent the use and development of The State Council and some increase over 1984. A student minority languages, both spoken provinces implement a preferent• stipend system unlike that in the and written, and on the training of ial economic policy in the rest of China has been instituted in minority nationality cadres and autonomous areas. This includes boarding schools in remote areas specialists. delegating the management power to entersprises of the autonomous and in some middle and primary The autonomy specified in the areas; granting them greater schools in minority naUonality law consists of two basic points: independence in technical trans• areas. First, within the framework of the formation, foreign trade, finance As a result of these preferential Constitution and law, the govern• and taxation; relaxing policies on terms, the autonomous areas have ment in an autonomous area has importing funds, technology and seen an acceleration in their the right to adopt special policies equipment to those areas; expand• economic developent. In 1986, the and flexible measures in light of ing fixed asset investment there autonomous areas' total industrial local needs and conditions. and encouraging trade between and agricultural output value Second, if the resolutions, deci• border areas (often populated by exceeded 87.2 billion yuan, 27.97 sions, orders or instructions of a minority people) and their neigh• percent more than in 1984. This higher state organ are found to be bouring countries. represents an average annual unsuited to local conditions, the The proportion of foreign increase of 13.99 percent, exceed• autonomous area's government exchange earned through trade, ing the 9.7 percent rate of the may suggest their amendments or which may be retained by the previous five years. cancellation to the higher locality, is a basic 25 percent; it is However, some problems still authorities. 30 percent for the coastal remain hindering the full imple• Some departments under the provinces of Guangdong and mentation of the autonomy law. State Council and various pro• Fujian; but 100 percent for the They are mainly caused by the fact 4 BEIJING REVIEW. NOVEMBER 23-29. 1987 M EVENTS/TRENDS that while implementing reform Zhao Meets Japanese Journalists measures, some government organs fail to respect the full range of the regions' autonomy or give hinese leader Zhao Ziyang Commenting on the US-Soviet consideration to their special Cinvited Noboru Takeshita to agreement in principle to elimi• conditions. For instance, the state visit China next year and said he is nate medium- and shorter-range policy of granting the minority looking forward to discussing with nuclear missiles and the coming areas' enterprises preferential Japan's new prime minister ways meeting of the two countries' treatment has not been properly to further Sino-Japanese relations. leaders, he said, "I hope their implemented. When new reforms Zhao, who is both general agreement and meeting will be the were introduced generally in the secretary of the Chinese Commu• start of the relaxation in overall last few years, the autonomous nist Party and premier of the State US-Soviet relations and the world areas' advantages were not kept Council, made the remarks when situation, and not a temporary up, leaving the provisions requir• he met Japanese journalists who compromise made by the two ing special preferences a paper were in China to cover the visit of a countries out of strategic promise only. delegation from the Japan Socia• considerations." At a recent meeting of the list Party. Zhao also said that China Standing Committee of the Zhao congratulated Takeshita pursues an independent foreign National People's Congress, high- on his new post and also expressed policy for peace, and therefore ranking officials and specialists appreciation for Takeshita's rec• changes in US-Soviet relations from various relevent departments ent remarks on his willingness to will not affect Sino-US or Sino- proposed that while studying and contribute to developing Japan- Japanese relations. formulating reform measures in China friendship. When asked if he plans to visit the future, special consideration "The general developmental Japan, Zhao said he is busy always be given to the minority trend of Sino-Japanese relations is planning the implementation of nationalities. This will give sound," Zhao reiterated, "but the the decisions of the recent substance to the preferential two countries should not deny that Communist Party Congress and treatment clause. there are still political and has not had time to consider ideas Some have suggested that the economic problems to solve in the for visits abroad.