Special report: Tibet: Its Past and Present

    SYDNEY, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A Tibetan professor said here on Thursday the incident that took place on March 14 would not result in a policy change towards Tibet from the Chinese government.

    The Chinese government will continue its support to Tibet to keep the peace and stability in the autonomous region, said Professor Sherap Nyima, head of the Chinese Tibetan delegation now on a visit in Australia.

    "The Chinese government will provide 170 billion yuan to Tibet during the period of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) to improve social life and infrastructure there," Nyima said at a Tibetology seminar in the New South Wales Parliament House.

    The seminar was attended by NSW members of parliament, representatives from the Chinese community in Sydney and local media.

    Tibet has undertaken great changes in the past few decades, said Nyima, who is the Vice-President of the Central University of Nationalities of China, adding that the average annual income of the Tibetans increased to around 10,000 yuan in 2007 from 241 yuanin 1965 and the average life expectancy almost doubled in the pastfive decades.

    Professor Tseyang Changngo, a member of the delegation and Vice President of the Tibet University in Lhasa, also said the Chinese government has spent lots of money and exerted great efforts in cultural protection in the region.

    "I teach Tibetan history and women and gender studies in Tibetan language at my university. Tibetan language is also taught in primary and middle schools in Tibet. We Tibetans can even have Microsoft office software in Tibetan language and can send mobile messages in Tibetan language," she said.

    At the seminar, Nyima also refuted criticisms that the Chinese government tried to change the demographic composition of Tibet by sending a large number of Han Chinese into the region. The real situation is totally different, he said.

    "There are 2.8 million people in Tibet, of which Han Chinese only account for five percent and the Tibetans 92 percent. Moreover, Tibet is part of China and why the Hans are not allowed to come and help Tibetans build a better Tibet?" the professor asked.

    Nyima said many people outside China know little about Tibet because they have never visited the place and are misled by Dalai Lama and a few foreign media with ulterior motives.

    "I come here hoping to communicate directly with you and tell you the real truth about Tibet. I hope more people will visit Tibet from Australia and more Tibetan scholars will come here to exchange ideas with you," he said.

    The seminar was organized by the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

    The Tibetan delegation arrived here on Wednesday and will visit Canberra and Melbourne before leaving for New Zealand.