The Peking University Shougang Hospital in Beijing has recently welcomed a new batch of medical school interns from Lhasa's Xizang University. They will undergo clinical training for several months, before returning to their hometowns. In this episode of Pledge of Prosperity, we follow reporter Chen Xiaoshu to learn about their experience in the Chinese capital.

These medicine interns are all fifth-year students at Xizang University Medical School. They'll spend most of their final undergraduate year rotating through different departments at Peking University Shougang Hospital.

Twenty-three-year-old Pargr from Shigatse is currently interning in the pediatrics outpatient department. He says his decision to become a doctor stemmed from a letter of reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping to senior students back in 2020.

Before the reply, the students had written to President Xi, sharing their achievements during the internship, thanking the Party and country, and expressing a desire to serve their homeland and contribute to their hometown.

PARGR Student, 2020 Clinical Medicine General Class Two Xizang University Medical School "I remember at the time, 17 senior students from the 2015 class of our school who were interning at Peking University Shougang Hospital received a letter of reply from President Xi. In the letter, President Xi advised them to cherish their time studying, sharpen their abilities, and go to places where they are most needed after graduation. At the time, I was in my first year of college. I was deeply moved and significantly influenced by this."

Xizang is one of China's minority regions with a shortage of general practice personnel, requiring further training and more well-trained staff. Since 2015, dozens of top-rated hospitals from across China have offered assistance to the plateau to improve local medical services. Through inter-school cooperation, many medical students from Xizang also have the chance to take up internships at hospitals across the mainland.

CHEN XIAOSHU Beijing "Take the Peking University Shougang Hospital as an example. Every year, around 20 clinical medicine students from Xizang University come here for a 9 to 12-month professional internship. These students hail from various ethnic groups in the Xizang region, including Tibetans, Han, and Monpas, among others."

Twenty-two-year-old Tashi Cijiu from Naqu is currently interning in the urology department. He plans to return to work at a township health center in his hometown after graduation.

TASHI CIJIU Student, 2020 Clinical Medicine General Class Two Xizang University Medical School "Currently, the medical standards in Naqu have significantly improved, with many townships now having their own health centers. But there are still notable differences compared to more developed regions. These differences are not only due to a lack of advanced equipment but also a shortage of skilled personnel. Because Naqu is relatively remote and has challenging living and working conditions, it doesn't attract many professionals to the medical field. But, I believe that with national support and assistance, the healthcare conditions in Naqu will continue to improve."

The hospital told CGTN that it has a long-term training program for these interns from Xizang.

GUO ZHENGGANG Assistant to Dean Peking University Shougang Hospital "We conducted a survey of previous students, and they all strongly expressed a desire to return to our hospital for further study. We are working on a project to create opportunities for them, including providing support in terms of living conditions, finances, and other areas."

Guo Zhenggang says the hospital maintains online contact with past interns from Xizang to help them overcome any difficulties they encounter while working in health centers at the grassroots. Chen Xiaoshu, CGTN, Beijing.