Ma is one of 560 professionals in various fields sent by Beijing's municipal government to be part of the Aid -Tibet program.

The government has invested 2.8 billion yuan ($456 million) over the past two decades, establishing more than 200 projects in a bid to improve people's lives on the Tibetan plateau.

For instance, 500 million yuan has been invested in education, for the construction of 10 schools in Lhasa, including Beijing High School of Lhasa, Tibet Beijing Middle School and Beijing Primary School of Lhasa. About 70 teachers were sent from the capital to Lhasa, greatly increasing the Tibetan capital's educational quality.