Chinese official hails forum on Tibet's development

by Zhang Bihong

ROME, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese official has spoken highly of a forum on the development of Tibet concluded here on Friday, saying the reality of China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) would be known by more people.

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)

"As a co-sponsor of the forum, we felt that most Italian people are interested in China and its Tibet Autonomous Region," Wang Chen, Minister of the State Council Information Office of China, told Xinhua.

"They are very friendly and supportive to China's policies in Tibet," Wang added, "this has been vividly proven during the high-level, large-scale forum."

The forum, the second of its kind, was jointly sponsored by the State Council Information Office of China, the Italy-China Foundation and the Chinese embassy. The first forum was held in Vienna in November 2007.

More than 400 people from China, Italy, Austria, Australia, the United States, Spain, Belgium and India attended the forum, at which over 20 government officials, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs spoke on Tibet's development in all sectors and explored ways to further boost Tibet's development.

Wang said the forum succeeded in promoting international exchanges of views on the development of Tibet.