Paired assistance provides aid to remote plateau settlements

Over the past 15 years, driven by the extensive pairing assistance and aid program mandated by the central government, Tianjin has poured investment, technology and talent into the remote plateau towns and villages of Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Qinghai province.

The long-running paired assistance program links up economically advanced cities and provinces in East China with cities and counties in less developed regions to provide development aid.

In Hornasha township, a settlement located at around 3,000 meters above sea level, a 41.7-kilometer road has been built linking it to nearby villages, and a stable water source piped in from Xiaoqing Mountain. The upgrades have allowed 644 households of farmers and herdsmen access to transport and tap water.

Tianjin began offering support to Huangnan in 2010. In Hornasha, it allocated 15 million yuan ($2.1 million) for road construction projects linking the four administrative villages of Rishugma, Chunu, Auhu and Yangdrung. The new road opened to traffic in 2022.

"In the past, roads in the villages were bumpy and uneven, making it hard for vehicles to pass. During the rainy season, they were muddy, and in winter, ice made them extremely dangerous," said Samdo, head of Hornasha township.

Improved roads have expanded opportunities for work and trade. Xue Dikun, a village official from Rishugma said transport has become "far more convenient" for the village's 1,050 residents, who rely on farming, herding, outside employment, commerce and dividends from collective economic cooperatives.

For Nyangga, a 76-year-old villager who runs a small shop, the difference is tangible. "We used to rely on mules or walk three hours to reach Tongren city (in Qinghai). Now I can drive there in 40 minutes," she said.

On Oct 20, 2019, a water-supply project serving both residents and livestock in the impoverished villages of Hornasha township was completed 84 days ahead of schedule.

To prevent freezing in winter, pipelines were buried underground, as deep as 2.6 meters.

"For years, villagers had to rely on rainwater collected in storage wells. Thanks to Tianjin's aid workers, they have found a stable water source and have tap water to drink," said Wu Yonghua, deputy mayor of Tongren.

Since 2010, Tianjin has invested 2 billion yuan in Huangnan, backing 661 projects to comprehensively promote its economic and social development.

Pei Zhi, the chief commander of the Tianjin Aid Qinghai Command Post, and vice-governor of Huangnan, said: "We are committed to using the aid funds where the people need them the most. We aim to focus on major projects while advancing overall efforts, ensuring that residents can genuinely feel the effectiveness of the aid program."

Healthcare has been a priority in Zekog county, a high-altitude pastoral area where 95 percent of its 80,000 residents are Tibetan. Tianjin doctor Fan Hongguang, who heads the county's People's Hospital, is among five medical specialists dispatched to strengthen local medical services.

The team conducts regular outreach across eight townships and 64 villages, offering treatment and raising awareness of common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease and respiratory infections.

The team also provides clinical training, forming 34 mentor-student pairs, nurturing 15 core local medical workers, holding more than 500 training sessions and helping nine staff members obtain medical licences.

"I hope to use my expertise to improve the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of the local hospital," said Li Peng, a Tianjin aid doctor and director of the radiology department at the People's Hospital in Zekog.

The local education system has also benefited from Tianjin's support. Between 2017 and 2022, 15 million yuan was invested in building the Central Kindergarten in Quze town, filling a long-standing gap in preschool education. "Previously, children of preschool age had to study alongside primary school pupils," said Yamma Tso, principal of Central Kindergarten in Quze town.

The kindergarten spans 4,320 square meters, enrolling 252 children in seven classes and employing 27 staff members. Aid funds have equipped classrooms with digital screens, playhouses, science learning spaces and outdoor facilities such as playgrounds and basketball courts.

"Tianjin's support has broadened the horizons of children living on the plateau," Yamma Tro said. "The quality of education here will only keep improving."

Chen Yijun contributed to this story.