ROME, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- If Tibet's mist-veiled altitudes have hitherto remained inaccessible to many, this autonomous Chinese region has now disclosed itself to Tibetologists and interested laymen alike at an easily accessible place like Rome.
Two days of presentation by participants from Australia, Austria, Belgium, India, Italy, Spain, the United States as well as China have offered data-based insight with due perspective into unveiling some of Tibet's mysteries.
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A participant of the Second Forum on Tibet walks past billboards about the education of children of China's Tibetan ethnic group, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 22, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
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This year coincided with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 50th anniversary of the democratic reform in Tibet.
The 400 participants of the Rome Forum on Tibet easily converted the figures provided by a senior Tibet Autonomous Region official to an over 97-fold increase of annual per-capita income to 13,790.92 RMB yuan or 2,028 U.S. dollars in his region between now and then.
With a greatly improved livelihood, the average life expectancy had almost doubled from 35.5 years to 67, according to vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government Dotok, who himself is a Tibetan.
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Dotok, vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government, addresses the opening ceremony of the Second Forum on Tibet, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 22, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
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Before 1951, there was no regular school in Tibet. Now, it has 1,017 regular schools plus 1,110 regular teaching sites (for nomads) with a total enrollment of 550,000 students in various grades.
Juan Ignacio Preciado, a Tibetologist from Spain, agreed with Duotuo's summary of the changes in Tibet. He described the changes in Tibet's social system and ensuing economic construction as "very rapid, astonishing and remarkable."
The Spaniard, who has spent the past 14 years mingling with Tibetans by traveling through most parts of the autonomous region, added that the present situation of the Tibetan language was much better than the situation 50 years ago, when 90 percent of Tibetans were illiterate.
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A participant reads the "Report on the Economic and Social Development of Tibet" during the Second Forum on Tibet, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 22, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
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There were Tibetan language classes taught from kindergarten up through university with textbooks printed in the Tibetan script, Tibetologists from the autonomous region briefed the forum.
It was the autonomous region that had initiated and promoted the formal collection and compilation of the epic of King Gesar, also known as the Orient's Homeric epic, hitherto passed on through generations on a balladier- to- balladier basis, according to Tibet-born Tibetologist Duobujie.
Narasimhan Ram, a speaker from India which borders China's Tibet across the Himalayas, shed light on the Chinese origin of the mysterious region and refuted the claim made by Dalai Lama andhis followers.
Speakers from Belgium and the United States also made their points at the Rome forum to appeal for more enlightening presentations about Tibet for a better understanding of the region and its history and culture.
The Rome forum, co-sponsored by the State Council Information Office of China, the Italy-China Foundation of Italy and the Chinese Embassy in Italy, was a first response to the call by the Belgian Gustaaf Geeraerts and the American Luise Blouin.
Tibetologists and interested laymen held their first forum in Vienna in November 2007.
But this time around, the forum extended its presentation scope to include an action-oriented round-table. This would help forge cooperation in developing Tibet, whose mysteries are fading fast.
Spanish Tibetologist: Tibet's development does not impair culture
ROME, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Spanish Tibetologist said here on Thursday that the development in China's Tibet did not impair the local culture, refuting lies spread by the Dalai Lama.
Speaking at the second forum on the development of China's Tibet, Juan Ignacio Preciado Idoeta said that Tibet has achieved "very rapid and astonishing economic progress in modernization" and has scored "remarkable achievements" since the 1950s, especially in the past few years. Full story
Indian journalist tells Tibet's reality, slaps separatists' lies
ROME, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- A famous Indian journalist and publisher revealed the true reality of China's Tibet here on Thursday, refuting lies made by the Dalai Lama and his separatist followers.
In an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of a two-day forum on development of Tibet, Narasimhan Ram, editor-in-chief of the Hindu and Group publications, said the separatists told lies about Tibet to the world. Full story
Forum on development of China's Tibet opens in Rome
ROME, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A two-day forum on economic, cultural and social development in China's Tibet opened here on Thursday.
The forum, Tibet: Development Prospects and Cooperation Opportunities, has attracted more than 400 participants from China, Italy, Austria, the United States, India, Australia, Spain and Belgium. Full story
