The gross domestic product (GDP) of Tibet in southwest China grew 13.4 percent to 29 billion yuan (US$3.7 billion) in 2006. This is the highest growth rate since 1995, the region's chief statistician said Thursday.

"The region's fixed asset investment reached 23.2 billion yuan (US$2.9 billion) last year, an 18.4 percent year-on-year increase," said Jinme Doje, director of the Tibet Regional Statistics Bureau.

The growth of fixed asset investment was in the main due to the region's infrastructure development such as housing for herders and farmers and the introduction of private investment, Jinme said.

Per capita GDP in Tibet reached 10,396 yuan (US$1,332) last year. There was an average annual GDP growth of 12 percent between 2001 and 2005. The region's GDP growth was 17.9 percent in 1995.

Foreign trade leapt by 60 percent last year to US$328 million. Border trade accounted for 53.6 percent of that.

Tibet's exports hit US$222 million which is up 34 percent over 2005 while the import volume grew 170 percent to US$106 million.

The region had 2.5 million tourists last year, up 40 percent over 2005, and reaped revenue of 2.7 billion yuan (US$350 million) from the visitors. Nearly 20,000 people work in tourism in Tibet.

"The operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Nyingchi Airport, Tibet's third after Lhasa and Qamdo, last year not only prompted rapid development of Tibet tourism but also brought unprecedented opportunities for the service and associated industries," Jinme said.

Tibet's wholesale and retail businesses, catering and real estate industries also developed rapidly last year, he said.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the first to link Tibet to the rest of China, starts in Xining in northwest China's Qinghai Province and ends in Lhasa. It began operation in July last year.

The reopening of border trade at the Nathu La Pass bordering Tibet and India, which also happened last July, also boosted the region's economic development, according to analysts.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)