March 22,2017--Qi Zhala, Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, recently received a joint interview by China's Tibet magazine and China Tibet Online. During the interview, Qi Zhala expressed his views on Tibet's ecological environment, poverty alleviation work, Tibetan cultural protection and heritage and other issues.

 

 

On January 15, 2017, Qi Zhala was elected chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region. Later, on two occasions before and after the Spring Festival, he went for investigations in Nagqu, which has the worst natural conditions in Tibet. He spoke with Tibetan farmers about production and other general chit chat. He also chatted with local administrators about people's livelihoods and tackling poverty.

 

Then what was he most concerned about during the investigations?

 

"The average altitude in Nagqu is over 4,500 meters and the climate is bitterly cold and dry. The oxygen content there is only half that of sea level. But it is the inner circle of ‘China's Water Tower' and ‘Asia's Water Tower', and protection of ecological environment is of paramount importance. With an area of more than 400,000 square kilometers, it is Tibet's most concentrated poor area; severe poverty stretches for miles, and it is hard to tackle. What should be done for the next stage of targeted poverty alleviation? These are new issues for me and a new challenge," Qi Zhala said sincerely.