Hu underlines stability and reform in Tibet

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday said the Tibet autonomous region must maintain social stability and push forward reform to achieve sound development.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) shakes hands with members of Tibetan delegation to the National People's Congress (NPC) during its annual session in Beijing, March 6, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Meticulous efforts must be paid to the tasks of reform, development, and stability to boost leapfrog development and maintain perennial stability in Tibet," Hu told the Tibetan delegation to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, which is convening its annual session in Beijing.

Hu stressed the fostering of the region's peculiar and competitive industries, development of modern agriculture and animal husbandry, improving infrastructure, and environmental protection in achieving leapfrog development.

He also called for greater government funding for public service programs and for remote, agricultural, and pastoral regions in Tibet.

The president was with the Tibetan delegation to deliberate a government work report and the country's new five-year blueprint delivered at the Fourth Session of the 11th NPC.