China's Tibetan delegation wraps up Switzerland visit

Source: Xinhua| 2017-03-31 22:29:33|Editor: ying
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GENEVA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A National People's Congress (NPC) delegation of legislators from China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Friday wrapped up a four-day visit in Switzerland where they met parliamentary and governmental officials and held talks with Tibetan inhabitants.

The delegation was led by Padma Choling, who is also a senior member of China's NPC Standing Committee.

In Bern, the delegation Thursday held meetings with President of the Swiss National Council Jurg Stahl, former president of the Swiss National Council Christa Markwalder, as well as Deputy State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Krystyna Marty Lang.

In the meeting with Stahl, Choling said the purpose of the visit was to deepen exchanges between the two parliaments and introduce Tibet's poverty alleviation efforts, traditional cultural protection and development, as well as ecological protection to their Swiss counterparts.

Stahl noted that relations between Switzerland and China have maintained a good momentum, highlighting that Switzerland has always pursued the one-China policy. This visit will help Swiss people better understand a true Tibet, he said.

During his meeting with Markwalder, Choling said it was pleasant to have extensive exchanges with the Swiss Parliament. He welcomed more Swiss lawmakers to visit Tibet.

Markwalder said she would like to visit China again and travel to Tibet.

Based on his own work experience, Choling explained to Lang China's system of regional ethnic autonomy, central government's supportive policies for Tibet and other ethnic minority regions, as well as Tibet's economic and social development in recent years.

Lang said the Chinese government has done a lot of work for the development of ethnic minority areas, which has facilitated economic and social development there.

With 2017 marking the Sino-Swiss tourism year, Lang said she expected increased tourist exchanges between Switzerland and China.

During visiting Zurich, members of the Tibetan delegation talked to Tibetans living in Zurich and Liechtenstein and briefed them about economic and social development and livelihood improvement in Tibet in recent years, especially in poverty alleviation.

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