China's Tibetan cultural delegation wraps up Ireland visit

A Chinese delegation on Tuesday wrapped up its three-day trip to Ireland, where they visited a government department, a university and a think tank to enhance exchanges on Tibetan culture.

The delegation visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dublin Institute of Technology, and the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), where they talked with government officials, teachers, students and researchers on issues ranging from Tibet's development and religious freedom, to Tibet's history and preservation of its splendid culture.

Zhang Yun, head of the delegation and also director of the Institute of History Studies of the China Tibetology Research Center, denounced the idea of "Greater Tibet", long advocated by the Dalai Lama, saying that the idea of "Greater Tibet" -- which includes Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai and other areas inhabited by Tibetans -- has never existed and the autonomy put forward by the Dalai Lama denies the leadership of the central government, and Tibet's present social and political system.

The Chinese Tibetologist said Tibet has undergone sweeping changes over the past several decades.

He said the fine traditional Tibetan culture has been inherited and developed and that big strides have been made in education, science and other undertakings.

Patrick English, a teacher from Dublin Institute of Technology, said he was amazed and happy with the inheritance and preservation of Tibet's ethnic culture.

IIEA Chairman Brendan Halligan spoke highly of China's policy on Tibetan religion and culture, saying that the Chinese policy seems carefully designed to respect Tibet's unique and distinctive features.

Ireland is the last leg of the delegation's three-nation visit, which also took the delegation to Belgium and Britain. Endit