A forum on development of China's Tibet opened on Thursday for two-day discussions on Tibet's advancement in all fields.

The forum, themed as Tibet: Development Prospects and Cooperation Opportunities, has attracted more than 400 participants from China, Italy, Austria, the United States, India, Australia, Spain and Belgium.

More than 20 Chinese and foreign government officials, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs will address the forum and explore opportunities for cooperation in its economic, social and cultural sectors.

The multilateral international academic forum is jointly sponsored by the State Council Information Office of China, Italy-China Foundation of Italy and the Chinese embassy in Italy.

This has been the second Tibet development forum. The first was held in Vienna in November 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2009)