Tibetans are being urged to embrace the opportunities that development will bring to their region, said the chairman of the Tibet autonomous region.

"Tibetans should fully take advantage of the region's development," said Padma Choling, who is also a deputy of the National People's Congress (NPC).

"Now that the transportation infrastructure in Tibet has been dramatically improved in recent years, I hope they will go out more, instead of staying at home, so they can earn more income."

And Padma Choling said he is hoping Tibetans become more proactive in the years to come.

"They are being encouraged to be more open-minded toward new things, such as running their own business or even working outside of the region," he explained.

President Hu Jintao on Sunday said Tibet must maintain social stability and push forward reform to achieve sound development.

"Meticulous efforts must be paid to the tasks of reform, development and stability to boost leapfrog development and maintain perennial stability in Tibet," Hu told the Tibetan delegation to the NPC.

Hu stressed the fostering of the autonomous region's peculiar and competitive industries, development of modern agriculture and animal husbandry, improving infrastructure and environmental protection in achieving leapfrog development.

The president was with the Tibetan delegation to deliberate a government work report and the country's new five-year plan delivered at the fourth session of the 11th NPC.

The autonomous region's government has recently launched a program aimed at helping people purchase vehicles in order to start up passenger transportation businesses. The project calls for the government to cover some of the cost of the vehicles and pay for fuel during the first year.