NICOSIA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition on Tibet opened here on Friday, providing a window for Cypriots to better understand the past and present of the Chinese autonomous region.

    The exhibition, entitled "Tibet of China: Past and Present", is jointly sponsored by the international department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese embassy in Cyprus and Cyprus' ruling Progressive Party of the Working People.

Andreas Demetriou (1st L), Minister of Education and Culture of Cyprus, Lu Hao (2nd R), a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee, and Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Zhao Yali (1st R) attend the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition titled "Tibet of China: Past and Present" in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, on Feb. 20, 2009. More than 200 black and white photographs and chromophotographs were presented at the photo exhibition, which vividly displayed the process of development in China's Tibet. (Xinhua/Wang Qiang) Photo Gallery>>>

    The exhibition consists of four sections -- History of Tibet, Serfdom in Tibet, Emancipation of Serfs and Tibet Today.

    "The exhibition is impressive," said Cypriot education and culture minister Andreas Demetriou.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Demetriou said the photos vividly display the tremendous changes in China's Tibet, a place which has kept its customs and traditions while making social progress.

Visitors look at photographs at a photo exhibition titled "Tibet of China: Past and Present" in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, on Feb. 20, 2009. More than 200 black and white photographs and chromophotographs were presented at the photo exhibition, which vividly displayed the process of development in China's Tibet. (Xinhua/Wang Qiang) Photo Gallery>>>

    Misguided by the propaganda of the Dalai Clique and some anti-China forces advocating the so-called "Tibetan independence", many foreigners have got a twisted picture of Tibet, the exhibition's organizers said.

    Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Zhao Yali expressed hope that the exhibition will help Cypriots get a better understanding of Tibet, its past and present, thus further boosting the friendly relationship between the two countries.

Cypriot president reaffirms support to China on Taiwan, Tibet

    NICOSIA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- President Demetris Christofias of Cyprus reaffirmed his country's support to China on the Taiwan and Tibet issues Friday, saying Cyprus adheres firmly to the one-China policy.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias (2nd R) receives a silk embroidery featuring the year of the ox from Lu Hao (2nd L), head of the visiting Chinese Communist Party delegation in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, Feb. 20, 2009. Christofias, who has just stepped down as the Secretary-General of the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus, vowed to further push the friendly and comradely relationship between the two parties and two countries. (Xinhua/Wang Qiang) Photo Gallery>>>

    He made the remarks while receiving a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), headed by Lu Hao, a member of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee. Full story