The Association for Science and  Technology of the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China held  its first annual academic meeting here Tuesday.

   A large number of local experts on agriculture, livestock  husbandry, meteorology, and solar and geothermal energies,  attended the meeting. Some of them have prepared academic papers  and will give lectures.

   Wang Baohai, vice chairman of the association, said this  meeting will focus on how to accelerate scientific and  technological advancement in Tibet and improve the income of local residents.

   Tibet now has 26 scientific research institutions and 34,000  scientific research personnel, over 70 percent of whom are  Tibetans or other ethnic minorities.