BEIJING, Jun 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese central government has arranged 6.4 billion yuan (774.2 million US dollars) this year to help Tibet Autonomous Region upgrade its infrastructure, accordingto Qiangba Puncog, the region's chairman.

    The year 2005 witnesses the 40th founding anniversary of Tibet Autonomous Region. The funds will be used to improve the local infrastructure in the aspects of roads, power supply and drinking water, said Puncog.

    "More than 80 percent of the funds will be arranged for rural areas to better the production and living conditions of local farmers and herdsmen," said Puncog during an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    For example, said Puncog, about 1.7 billion yuan will be used to construct a highway network that connects all the township seats in Tibet.

    He said that to date, there remains one Tibetan county without highway access.

    Another part of the 6.4 billion yuan will be used to send powerto Tibetan families.

    "There remain many Tibetan families in Tibet without electricity," he said.

    "The local government has made an ambitious schedule to bring electricity to 90 percent of Tibetan families before 2010," he said. "And that would be a very great and historic leap forward for Tibet."

    The funds were part of the Chinese government's recent activities designed to help Tibetans in a practical way via arranging major projects.

    Puncog said the amount of the funds for infrastructure in Tibethas always been more than 16 billion yuan (1.93 billion US dollars)from various channels in past years, which has laid a sound foundation for the development of Tibet. Enditem