“Tibet is very attractive," said US Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt on his first visit to Tibet Monday.

Randt said Tibet attracted him for its long history and rich religious and cultural heritage, adding that Tibet was very uniqueand different from other parts of the world.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Xu Mingyang, vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Government.

Xu briefed Randt on economic development in Tibet and the blueprint for its economic construction during the 10th Five-Year Plan period (from 2001 to 2005).

"On the basis of better protecting the environment, the local economy has seen remarkable expansion over past decades," he said.

He said that Tibet planned to construct asphalt roads in all counties, make electricity available in all townships and radio available in all villages, adding that per capita income for the rural population would rise at the end of the Ninth Five-Year Plan period.

Xu said that Tibet was rich in water and rare plants, pointing out that the mineral water in Tibet was rich in minerals and helpful to health.

Randt said he had drunk the mineral water and felt "good".

When Randt asked which fields were more suitable for foreign investment in the region, Xu said apart from tourism, the exploitation of resources, such as water, agricultural products and mineral resources, showed great potential.

In responding to Randt's question on the measures adopted by local government to improve the income of the general public, Xu said Tibet would cultivate the agricultural market through construction of small towns and offer preferential policies to promote the commercialization of agricultural products, so as to improve the income of rural population.

Randt urged the local government to actively encourage and attract foreign investment so as to increase exchanges and understanding.