The overall situation in Tibet is stable, one year after the March 14 riot, chairman of the regional government, Qiangba Puncog, said on Friday.

"Although the riot has caused tremendous damage to the social and economic development and people's life in Tibet, it did not change the fundamentals of the steady development in Tibet," , he told a panel discussion of Tibet lawmakers at the ongoing annual session of the parliament.

The region has issued a series of preferential policies to help the shops and industries, which had been disturbed by the riot, to resume normal operation, said the official, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC).

"These policies, covering tax, education, medicare, employment, and transportation, have made remarkable achievement" said the official.

The regional GDP topped 39.59 billion yuan (about US$5.82 billion) in 2008, an increase of 10.1 percent over the previous year.

Herdsmen and farmers in the region enjoyed average per capita net income of 3,176 yuan in 2008, an increase of 13.9 percent over 2007, noted the official, adding that the per capita disposable income of the Tibetan urban reached 12,482 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.1 percent.

"Tibetan people cherish the precious stable condition and the present happy life," said the official.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2009)