2019 NPC & CPPCC SESSIONS: NPC Tibet delegation discusses poverty alleviation

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18 NPC deputies from the Tibet Autonomous Region gave a press conference on Wednesday, the day after Premier Li Keqiang presented his work report. They talked about their work in Tibet in 2018, and their plans for the coming year. Mike Walter reports.

Premier Li Keqiang visited this part of southwestern China just a few months ago.

He urged leaders to embrace new economic drivers to help with the financial health of Tibet Autonomous Region.

Deputies gathered at Beijing's Great Hall of the People to talk about the success of their efforts. Some of the news was upbeat. Farmer income spiked by nearly 11 percent from a year earlier. The region's GDP grew by more than 9 percent. 181 thousand were lifted out of poverty.

The deputies said they have a number of projects designed further to alleviate poverty.

QI ZHAHA, VICE SECRETARY CPC PARTY COMMITTEE, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION "There are over 700 industry projects related to poverty reduction. And about 200 have been carried out, helping lift over 35,000 people out of poverty."

MIKE WALTER BEJING "After delivering their recap of 2018, they opened things up for a freewheeling news conference with questions ranging from healthcare to education and the environment. There was even a question about the Dalai Lama."

MI MAGUOJI NPC DEPUTY "I'm a deputy from the grassroots. I've worked for electricity supply for villagers for a long time. I know many villagers. For me and all the villagers I know, none like Dalai Lama. Instead, we believe it is Dalai Lama who made a lot of troubles."

They also had a rosy prediction for the future saying the Sichuan-Tibet railway should help with tourism, which remains a pillar for the region's economy. Mike Walter, CGTN.