Source: China Tibet Information Center

04-15-2009 16:40

　　BEIJING, April 12 -- A photo exhibition titled "Tibet & Qinghai" opened in the University of Maryland (UM) of the USA on Thursday with an aim of telling a true Tibet and Qinghai to the Americans and opening a new window for further understanding the culture of western China.

　　Xie Feng, Minister Chancellor of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony with teachers and students from UM, staff of Chinese Embassy in the USA, journalists and some other people from all walks of life in attendance.

　　Xie Feng, Minister Chancellor of the Chinese Embassy, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the second themed event for "Forum Series on Understanding Western China" featuring Qinghai and Tibet in Washington, D.C., April 9, 2009. The second themed event, focusing on Tibet and Qinghai, opened in the Confucius Institute of the University of Maryland.(Xinhua Photo)

　　Xie said the exhibited photos tell about the historical fact that Tibet is a part of China since ancient times, show up the darkness and bloodiness under the brutal feudal serfdom system in old Tibet and reflect the tremendous changes of the society as well as people‘s life since the Democratic Reform in Tibet.

　　Xie also introduced facts and figures about the great changes after Tibet launched the Democratic Reform in 1959. Xie said: "The population of Han nationality occupies less than 6 percent of the total population of Tibet; the illiteracy rate for young people is less than 5 percent while the enrollment rate for school-aged children is more than 98 percent; currently, there are over 1,700 activity sites for Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet with 46,000 monks and nuns and over 280 living Buddhas."

　　Donna Hamilton, associate dean of the University of Maryland, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the second themed event for "Forum Series on Understanding Western China" featuring Qinghai and Tibet in Washington, D.C., April 9, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

　　Based upon the above facts and figures, Xie holds that it is a fallacy to say that the Chinese government did genocidal acts in Tibet and the so called "genocide on Tibetan language and culture" is ridiculous. The alleged expression about Chinese government "destroying" Tibet's religion is a tale of a tub. Moreover, the so called view on "Tibet's Chinesization" is a complete political lie as current Tibet is full of energy and vital force.

　　Xie Feng said that currently Tibet and Qinghai are in their best development period as the economy, society, culture, people's life and all other aspects are developing fast. And both the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Qinghai Province are joining in China's "go-west" enterprise to greet a more beautiful tomorrow.

　　As one of celebrating activities for marking 30th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties, the "Tibet and Qinghai" photo exhibition organized by Confucius institute of UM is the second topic forum for better understanding China's "go-west" enterprise.