Chang Sheng arrived in Beijing from afar -- Linzhi Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region -- Thursday night to attend the Fourth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body.

The man began reviewing his proposal on Tibet's capital construction and further opening to the outside world, which is to be handed over to the session, immediately after checking into the hotel.

"I hope Tibet will become even better in the new century," said Chang, who is the only CPPCC National Committee member from the ethnic group of Luoba.

Like the Luoba man, all the CPPCC National Committee members from Tibet are in high spirits, despite a very long journey, which has brought them down from the mountainous region with an average altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level.

"After taking a look at the past, Tibetans feel enormous changes that have taken place in their home region," said Gaisang Donzhub. In the new century, Tibetans are looking forward to more assistance from the central government and other parts of the country, while Tibet should make greater efforts to strengthen ties with the developed eastern and coastal areas, he said.

Samzhub, from Lhasa, the regional capital, said attempts by the Dalai Lama clique to sabotage Tibet are doomed to fail as all Tibetans are longing for peace, stability, national unity and economic development. He is going to put forward a proposal on economic and environmental issues.

Tibetans want to narrow the economic gap that exists between the autonomous region and inland areas of the country, due to historical reasons, said Jingsong, who is from the ethnic group of Mengba. "Hopefully, my proposals would contribute to the prosperity of the whole nation as well as Tibet," he said.

(Xinhua 03/02/2001)