Together with 661 local officials from 17 provinces and municipalities, they are the fifth group of officials from elsewhere to serve in Tibet since the central government started to dispatch central and local officials to the autonomous region in 1995.

More than 2,890 officials have served in Tibet, enhancing communications with other regions of the country and improving economic and social development.

The latest group have an average age of 40 with the youngest at 25. They included 10 women and 12 from minorities.

The 853 officials this month include political officials, professional and enterprise management experts.