Hua Junxiong, President of the China Peaceful Unification Promotion Association based in New York, U.S., recently accepted an exclusive interview with Xinhua News agency. He elaborated on the fundamental changes he witnessed over the past two decades in the Tibet Autonomous Region, where he made two journeys in 1985 and 2006 respectively.
"When I paid the first visit to the Himalayan mountain region in 1985, Tibetan people, without exception, did not fully enjoy the substantial benefits brought about by the country's reform and opening policy, which was ushered in 1978. In 2006, when I set foot on the soil the second time, however; I was deeply moved and impressed by everything that was happening there.
Streets had been broadened, and shops boasted a great variety of goods. Tibetans are developing with the times and social progress, as displayed in their dress and adornments, diet and residence.
Meanwhile, Tibetan religion and culture are both well preserved and cherished. Cultural relics, ancient books and records are also well-preserved and utilized. And the study of the Tibetan language is protected by law.
Hua also rebutted the nonsense claimed by the Dalai clique on "cultural genocide." He said that the Tibetan people have created and developed a brilliant and distinctive culture over a long period of time; and Tibetan culture has been a dazzling pearl in the treasure-house of Chinese culture, as well as that of the entire world.
China's central government beefed up its investment in the maintenance and renovation of monasteries and temples. In particular, between 1989 and 1994, the central government allocated 55 million yuan and a quantity of gold, silver and other precious materials to repair the Potala Palace – unprecedented in China's history of historical relic preservation.
The world-famous Life of King Gesar, a lengthy and valuable heroic epic created by the Tibetan people over a lon period of time, is a rare literary treasure for Tibetans and the whole of mankind. However, it has all along been passed down by folk artists orally. To better protect it, the regional authorities set up special bodies in 1979 to collect, research, edit and publish the Life of King Gesar. The state designated it a key scientific research project during the sixth, seventh and eighth Five-Year Plans. As a result, this epic, which had for centuries been known only to a few folk artists, has come out as a complete literary masterpiece called, "the King of world epics;" has been translated into English, Japanese and French; and has been distributed all over the world.
On top of that, Hua said, the Tibetan economy grows yearly at a rate of more than 12 percent – higher than that of other inland parts of China. Tibetan students lead the country in receiving free compulsory education. The uniqueness in Tibetan culture and religion has always been placed under the government's protection."
Therefore, Hua observed that people who have little knowledge of Tibet and Tibetan culture should not look at things through colored spectacles and take on a distorted perspective. Moreover, people should not been taken in by those who try to drive a wedge between Tibetans and other ethnic people in a bid to fulfill their secessionist ambitions, as manifested in the March 14 Lhasa riots.
Only by looking at the true situation in Tibet will we believe Tibet is changing for better, and going to be more harmonious and flourishing in future.
By People's Daily Online
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article