VIENNA, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- "The snow-white had a represents true friendship and extend my blessings," Tibetan rinpoche Dadrak Tenzin Gelek told ambassadors to the UN office in Vienna (UNOV), when attending the luncheon held for him and his delegation by the UNOV.

    Tenzin Gelek was here attending the China Tibet Culture Festival from Oct. 18 to 29. The festival, part of celebrations to mark the 35th anniversary of China-Austria diplomatic ties, features a photo and tangkar exhibition, a Tibetan song and dance performance and exchanges of activities between the Chinese Tibetologists and rinpoches and the Austrian scholars.

    At the hour-long luncheon, Tenzin Gelek and other members of the delegation answered questions from the ambassadors to UNOV and representatives of UN organizations.

    Gyorgyi Margin Zanathy, envoy of Hungary to UNOV, asked about the anti-drug legislation in Tibet and how laws were enacted in Tibet as an autonomous region.

    Well-known Tibetologist Pasang Norbu told her that autonomous regions in China enjoy a high degree of autonomy that is embodied in law making.

    Austria's Thomas Stelzer expressed worries about the Tibet's eco-system after the Qinghai-Tibet railway was put into use.

    In reply, Li Guangwen, deputy-director of the Standing Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress, said that pressure brought by fast-growing tourism surely existed, but measures to improve tourism management had also been taken.

    "Relevant departments in Tibet so far has limited the use of plastic bags and made specific regulations on garbage collection," he said, adding that the Potala Palace had also limited the number of daily visitors.

    Tenzin Gelek said anyone who goes to Tibet could feel an atmosphere of religious freedom, adding that the central government has allocated large amounts of money to rebuild the ancient temples.

    Apart from that, local governments at all levels in Tibet supported family workshops to promote their handicrafts, and hand-made carpets had become a pillar industry in Tibet, Tenzin Gelek said.