Forum on Tibet concludes, hailed a "success"

Source: | 12-01-2007 08:28

VIENNA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The two-day forum on Tibet's development has helped people understand more about the ongoing developments in the autonomous region of China, and will definitely promote its development, a senior Chinese official said here Friday.

"The event has been very successful, very meaningful and fruitful," Qian Xiaoqian, deputy director of the State Council Information Office of China, said at the closing of "the First Forum on the Development of Tibet, China."

Delegates from China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Austria's Gussing sign a deal on establishing friendship city ties between Gussing, Austria, and Bayi of China's Tibet in Vienna, Nov. 30, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

Participants discussed a variety of topics and agreed on several points, said Qian.

The successful forum in Vienna will serve as a good beginning for such events in future, he added.

Franz Loschnak, president of the Organization to Support the Austrian and Chinese Economic Cooperation, one of the main sponsors from the Austrian side, also hailed the forum a "great success."

Through the event, participants knew better about the real and rapid progress in Tibet, he said.

"After attending the forum, most of the participants, who have not yet visited Tibet, feel like they have been to Tibet," said Loschnak, a former Austrian interior minister.

He added that the forum had also enhanced mutual understanding between the people of Tibet and the rest of the world through exchanges of views and information.

Earlier, a statement issued at the close of the forum urged the international community to adopt a more objective approach toward China's Tibet Autonomous Region and its development.

Participants of the forum called on the international community to deepen its understanding of Tibet and grasp precious opportunities to join hands with Tibet for common development, said the statement.

The participants agreed that during Tibet's development, great importance must be attached to the protection of traditional culture and the environment, and the development of education and science and technology, said the statement.

They also spoke highly of the efforts by China's central government to modernize Tibet, and were deeply impressed by the remarkable achievements in development made by the Tibet Autonomous Region, it added.