Thursday, August 10, 2006
China to extend Tibetan rail link
BBC 10thAug08China's government plans to extend its new Tibetan rail link to reach the region's second-biggest city, Xigaze, according to China's state news agency.
The existing track opened in July, and connects Tibet's capital Lhasa to Qinghai, and from there to Beijing.
It has already caused controversy. The government says it will help the region but critics fear increased control.
They also say the railway line threatens both the delicate Himalayan environment and Tibetan culture.
'Great opportunities'
The line to Xigaze will extend the railway by some 270km (170 miles) and should be completed within three years, the state news agency Xinhua reports.
"The railway will offer great opportunities for the social and economic development of Xigaze," local official Yu Yungui told Xinhua. Read More ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4778521.stm
