Special report: Tibet: Its Past and
Present
BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A renowned Belgian
professor specialized in Oriental Studies said here Thursday that the Chinese
government has done a great deal in the protection of the Tibetan culture.
"Without the support and help of the Chinese
government in protection, the culture in Tibet could not be as good as it is
now," Professor Charles Willemen, a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of
Sciences, told Xinhua and China Central TV in a joint interview.
"The government has helped a lot, really," stressed
Prof. Willemen, who has visited Tibet for three times.
He described the Dalai Lama's accusation which says
that the Chinese government has carried out "culture genocide" policy in Tibet
as "strange and unjustified."
Prof. Willemen made his first visit to Tibet in the
1980s and the third 10 years ago.
He visited China four times a year since he made his
first trip 25 years ago.
"I witnessed great changes in Tibet," he said, noting
that Lhasa, capital of China's Tibetan Autonomous Region, was as developed as
other cities in China, but with its own characteristics.
"When I first visited there, there was only one hotel
for foreigners," he said, "but later there are more hotels, new temples and
institutes for people to worship and study Buddhism. Now there is a new airport
in Lhasa."
With respect to the life of the Tibetan people, Prof.
Willemen, who once visited homes of ordinary Tibetans, said: "They are very
happy, and happier than the Belgians."
He said some people in the West do not like to see
changes in Tibet, "but one should understand that any region in the world should
witness development and progress. It is impossible to remain forever like the
Medieval times."
Prof. Willemen is fluent in Chinese and Japanese, and
can read Hindi.
He has also been working to promote cultural
exchanges and friendly relations between China and Europe. He was once vice
president of the Belgium-China Friendly Association.
