The 5th National Conference on Tibet held recently in Beijing heard that the central government had invested $45 billion in aid to the region over the past nine years. This figure, it was said, had helped "boost Tibet's leapfrog development" and achieve "lasting stability."

The meeting, which was attended by President Hu Jintao, and other top leaders, also heard that efforts would be made to "greatly improve the living standards" of people in Tibet to national levels by 2020.

However, the outbreak of violent riots in early 2008 - in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other areas with large Tibetan populations - indicated that simply throwing more cash at the region may not be enough. China blamed the Dalai Lama and exiled Tibetan groups for the violence.

He denies any involvement in the unrest and says he supports greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence. And at the recent work meeting, President Hu said that the central government would continue to "prevent and crack down" on separatist activities.