The Tibetan people hope to raise their economic, educational and cultural level through China's plan of western development, a group of Tibetan specialists said in Hamburg, Germany Tuesday.
The group headed by Kalsang Gyaltsen, leader of the Tibetan Institute of Social Studies, told German researchers on Tibetan affairs, that Tibet will open more to the world, attract foreign investment, and push its economy forward.
China's plan to develop its western region will help Tibet to catch up with the relatively advanced eastern region, Kalsang Gyaltsen told German researchers with the Institute For Asian Affairs based in Hamburg.
With various programs, the government of Tibetan Autonomous Region is raising the educational level of Tibetans, and introducing modern civilization into their life, Kalsang Gyaltsen said.
Meanwhile, Tibet is continuously paying effort to protect its traditional culture, religion, and unique natural environment, he added.
Presenting German researchers with the latest development of the Tibetan studies, Kalsang Gyaltsen said that Tibetan studies in China have developed smoothly after the democratic reform in Tibet in the 1950s.
In the era of reform and open beginning in the 1980s, better conditions have been created for Tibetan studies. Now more than 2,000 researchers in 50 institutes are focusing their work on Tibetan culture, religion and history, he said.
Werner Draguhn, head of the Institute for Asian Affairs, said German researchers are pleased to hold academic exchange and cooperation with Chinese colleagues.
Tibet and its development have sparkled the interest of German people and researchers, he said.
German researchers also said they should listen more to the Chinese government on Tibetan affairs and hold unbiased viewpoints.
"On Tibetan affairs, we still have much to find out and study," said Peter-Hannes Lehmann, a researcher on Tibetan affairs with the Stern news weekly.
(Xinhua 10/18/2000)
