China will maintain and improve a road to Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest), the world's highest mountain, in two stages to preserve the vulnerable plateau ecosystem and ensure safety for worldwide mountaineers, an official of the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region said on Saturday.

 

"In the first stage, we are doing basic maintenance work on the existing road built in 1978 of sand and stone. It's set to complete in mid August," said Hao Peng, vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

 

In the meantime, the regional government plans to improve the road, he said. "But the plan is subject to a feasibility study and environment assessment before it is approved by the relevant department of the central government. That will probably take a pretty long time."

 

Hao said Tibet has always attached great importance to the preservation of the ecology and environment in the nature reserve of the Mount Qomolangma. "But many mountaineers and tourists from home and abroad have suggested the road need maintenance and renovation."

 

Besides, many Tibetans have expressed the same demand for easier access to the mountain, he told a group of 32 foreign journalists representing 19 worldwide media organizations.

 

Without any overhaul, the existing 110-km long, 3.5 meters wide road linking the China-Nepal highway with a monastery at the foot of Mount Qomolangma is in poor condition. "Driving is very dangerous on this mountain road with more than 170 curves," Hao said.

 

He denied plans to build hotels on the mountain. "Tibet has no such plan at present. Any future activities in the nature reserve will be conducted in line with relevant regulations."

 

The delegation of foreign journalists are scheduled to arrive in Tibet's second largest city Xigaze on Sunday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2007)