Tibet is expected to receive a total of 700 million yuan (84 million U.S. dollars) in funding for development from China's central government and other provinces and municipalities in 2001-2005 when the country carries its 10th five-year development plan.

    Legqog, head of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, said Thursday in an interview with Hong Kong correspondents that during the five-year period, the central government alone has pledged to allocate 379 million yuan (45 million U.S. dollars) to Tibet, doubling the amount of the past five years.

    The central government has also decided to support Tibet's social and economic development by adopting preferential policies in over a dozen fields.

    Legqog said the preferential policies include that of taxes and finance, investment and inter-bank loans, as well as prices and wages.

    The central government recently planned 117 construction projects for Tibet, including the 120-million-yuan Tibet section of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

    Other provinces and municipalities will help build 70 projects of infrastructure, agricultural development and environmental development, he said.

    Legqog stressed that Tibet will gradually open more areas, including the border areas, to overseas tourists and businessmen and introduce more overseas investment.