China sets plan to settle 470,000 Tibetan herders

11/10/2008 19:55:51

Authorities in the Chinese province of Sichuan plan to spend 732 million dollars to settle 470 thousand Tibetan herders in permanent houses.

Xinhua news agency says the plan is part of an effort to promote the development of ethnic Tibetan areas.

Rioting broke out in ethnic Tibetan areas of the southwest province earlier this year after the Tibetan capital Lhasa was hit by violent protests against Chinese rule.

Over the next four years, the Sichuan government will build brick houses and villages including primary schools, clinics and offices for the Tibetan nomads.

Xinhua reports provincial authorities will also invite companies to design and make special tents and other goods to modernise the living standards of the herder.

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