VOL. 34, NO. 22 June 3-9, 1991 NATIONAL CHILD IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME "Let's see who is the strongest!" ^^^^^^^^H Photo by Ying Saigong HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK BeijingR-ir VOL. 34, NO. 22 JUNE 3-9,1991 Special Economic Policies for Tibet CONTENTS NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 • The central government has implemented a series of special policies towards Tibet in such areas as taxation, Special Economic Policies for foreign-exchange retention and prices in order to facili• Tibet tate the region's economic development. Each year, the central government provides Tibet with 1 billion yuan EVENTS/TRENDS 5 7 in subsidies. As a result, Tibet has made remarkable Peaceful Liberation progress in its socialist construction during the 40 years Remembered in Tibet since its peaceful liberation in 1951 (p. 4). Science, Technology Pivotal to 90s Economy Enhancing Awareness of Youngster's Health Sino-Pakistan Ties: Turning Harnessing the Huaihe River Forty • The work to harness the Huaihe River, started 40 INTERNATIONAL years ago, has been a success, bringing about tremen• dous changes in the Huaihe River valley. It required Pakistan Reforms Its Economy 8 scientific planning, drainage of flood zones, protection Joint US-Soviet Efforts to Resolve Mideast Problem 10 against sea water infiltration, desalinization and the Lebanon Buries the Hatchet 11 construction of many irrigation projects (p. 12). CHINA The Huaihe River Successfully Immunization for Children Harnessed 12 Free Medical Care in Tibet 18 • A survey of 284 counties shows that the inoculation Immunization Campaign Targets Children 20 rate for Chinese children has reached well over 85 Hu Manli: A Loving Mother to percent in the nation's 2,827 counties, freeing at least Orphans 25 300 miUion Chinese children from the threat of infec• tious diseases. By 1995, moreover, China plans to elimi• BUSINESS/TRADE 27-29 nate poliomyelitis (p. 20). BOOKS 30-31 CULTURE/SCIENCE 32-34 US and Soviet Leaders Visit the Middle East COVER: "Thirsty for Knowledge" —winner of the first prize at the • After the Gulf war, the Middle East problem com• 1990-91 "Black-Diamond" Cup Na• manded world attention. US Secretary of State James tional Photo Competition spon• Baker and Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmert- sored by Beijing Review and the nykh each visited several Middle East countries seeking Huaibei Yangzhuang Coal Mine of a solution to the confrontation between the Arab nations Anhui Province. and Israel. However, no substantial progress towards a Photo by Wang Guonian (Shang• reasonable solution has as yet been made. (p. 10). hai) General Editorial Office Published every Monday by BEIJING REVIEW Subscription rates (1 year): Tel: 8314318 24 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037 Australia.. A$33.60 TLX: 222374 FLPDA CN The Peoples Republic of China New Zealand.. ..NZ.$45.00 FAX: 8314318 Distributed by China International Book UK.... ..18.00 English Dept. Tel: 8315599 Ext. 546 Trading Corporation (GUOJI SHUDIAN) USA.. US$33.80 P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China Canada. ..Can.$33.80 NOTES FROM THE EDITORS Special Economic Policies for Tibet by Our Guest Commentator Ling Bin r I ihe Agreement of the Central People's Region can be set or readjusted by the people's I Government and the Local Government government of the autonomous region on a of Tibet on the Measures for the Peace• trial basis. If the setting or decontrolling of ful Liberation of Tibet, signed on May 23, prices involves areas outside the autonomous 1951, marked the most decisive turning point region, the people's government of the Tibet in Tibetan history. Over the past 40 years, the Autonomous Region is asked to consult with Tibet Autonomous Region has experienced neighbouring regions to co-ordinate their poli• epoch-making changes as a result of its social• cies. ist construction carried out under the leader• Additionally, over the past three years, in ship of the Central People's Government and order to improve the economic environment has scored remarkable achievements in various and rectify the economic order and curb infla• fields of endeavour. tion, the State Council Price Commission and Considering Tibet's harsh natural conditions the State Price Bureau, while exercising target• due to its special geographical location on the ed control on the country's general retail price "Roof of the World," the central government level, assign annual retail price rise limits (spe• has adopted a host of special policies for the cific controlled targets) to the people's govern• region. The feudal serfdom instituted in Tibet ments of all the provinces, autonomous regions before the democratic reform and the area's and municipalities except the Tibet Autonom• closure to the outside world resulted in a back• ous Region. As a matter of fact, the price ward economy and culture. In view of this departments of the Tibet Autonomous Re• situation, the central government implements gion, following the central government's pric• a more flexible policy towards Tibet in order ing guidelines and policies and taking Tibet's to speed up the region's economic develop• specific conditions into account, have formu• ment. For example, while the land, grassland lated realistic and suitable measures to control and forestry are publicly owned, the farmers local prices. have the right to use the land and the herds• Because around 90 percent of Tibet's daily men own all the livestock they raise. And the necessities and foodstuffs are brought in from policy will not change for a long time. the inland, price rises outside the region direct• In the past 40 years, the state has given much ly boost Tibet's price level. The capacity of the financial and material support to Tibet for its region's financial departments and enterprises modernization, with the annual amount reach• to bear price hikes is weak and their financial ing 1 billion yuan in recent years. Tibet is resources are insufficient to control prices. The allowed to retain all its foreign exchange earn• individual economy makes up a fairly large ings . The state has started 43 key projects in proportion of the region's economy and quite a Tibet in recent years, and the scale of invest• number of individual commercial and service ment in Tibet is larger than in any other au• households have entered the region from var• tonomous regions. Moreover, Tibet's agricul• ious parts of the country. All these factors ture and animal husbandry are all tax free. make it more difficult for Tibet to control In regard to price policy, the state an• prices than inland areas. Nevertheless, in re• nounced on May 20, 1988 that except for cent years, the Tibet Autonomous Region has unified state stipulations on trans-provincial, not only made timely readjustments of prices trans-regional air freight charges, basic postal for farm and animal by-products and for in• and telecommunication fees, oil pipeline fees, dustrial goods and vehicle transport fees, but customs charges as well as the ceiling price for has tangibly reduced the rate of retail price musk that must be enforced, the prices of rises by adopting various measures. The mar• various material and commodities and labour ket supply of non-staple foods has also greatly service charges within the Tibet Autonomous improved. „/.) • 4 BEIJING REVIEW, JUNE 3-9,1991 EVENTS/TRENDS Peaceful Liberation Remembered in Tibet hasa, capital of Tibet, looked its festival best on May 22 as more than 4,000 Lpeople from all walks of life in the Tibet Autonomous Region gathered at Tibet Gymnasium to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Tens of thousands of Tibetans, clad in their holiday best, stood on both sides of the road leading to where a central delegation was staying, dancing and waving flow• ers to greet guests from Beijing ZHANG YAKHUI and other parts of the country. On May 22, members of the central delegation and leaders of the Tibet Autonomous Among the celebrants were Li Region, together with tens of thousands of local people, participate in a big rally in Tieying, member of the Political Lhasa, celebrating the 40th birthday of New Tibet. Bureau of the Central Commit• tee of the Communist Party of Party of China, there would not monasteries and temples, he said. China (CPC) and head of the have been a new socialist Tibet. The administration of the mon• central delegation which arrived Tremendous changes have tak• asteries should be improved to earlier to mark the occasion, and en place in Tibet in the interven• ensure all religious activities to Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, vice- ing years. Agriculture, animal be carried out within the scope of chairman of the Standing Com• husbandry and industry have de• the Constitution and state laws. mittee of the National People's veloped rapidly and the people's Li hoped that a united, pros• Congress (NPC). living standards saw marked im• perous and civilized new Tibet A joint message of congratu• provement. would emerge on the "Roof of lations from the CPC Central According to Li, the central the World" in the near future. Committee, the NPC Standing government allocated more than Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, who Committee, the State Council 17.77 billion yuan to Tibet be• was the chief delegate of the lo• and the Central Military Com• tween 1952 and 1990. Li pledged cal government of Tibet when mission was read at the celebra• that the central government will a 17-article agreement on the tion meeting. continue to provide Tibet with peaceful liberation of Tibet was Addressing the meeting, Li all necessary support so as to en• signed in Beijing 40 years ago, conveyed the greetings and best able the local people to speed up said that the event promoted the wishes of the Party and central economic construction and cul• unity of China's mainland and government to people of all na• tural development.