Sinopec-funded primary school opens in Tibet

A new primary school, the building of which was funded by one of China's largest petroleum firms, was opened Sunday in a remote Tibetan county at an altitude of 4,700 meters above sea level. The Sinopec Primary School in Baingoin County of Nagqu Prefecture covers 12,700 square meters, consisting of a classroom building, six dormitory buildings for the students and four dormitory buildings for the staff, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) said in a press release. The school, built at a cost of 36 million yuan (5.6 million U.S. dollars), will provide free education and lodging for local children. Tibetan teacher Sonam Dondrup said he was delighted that his students will start their new school year in "the county's most beautiful school" next month. Baingoin County, covering 30,000 square kilometers, is one of the highest and most impoverished counties in Nagqu Prefecture. Since 2002, the state-owned Sinopec has invested more than 183.9 million yuan in aid funds and launched 71 aid projects in the paired-up support program with Bangoin County. These projects have covered homes for nomads, solar energy-fueled lighting and a number of training programs. Between 2006 and 2010, 16 state firms paired up with Tibetan counties to foster their development. They plan to invest 84 billion yuan in aid funds in the coming five years.