A group of 19 US Army generals wound up a two-day visit in the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China,and left on Monday aboard a special flight, heading for Beijing, the Chinese national capital.

The delegation, which arrived in Lhasa, the autonomous regionalcapital, on Sunday afternoon, is headed by retired General Morgan Thomas, who is senior advisor of the National Defense University of the United States. These generals are attending an academic course at the US National Defense University.

During their stay, the American visitors were informed of political, economic and cultural progress in Tibet, by local government officials and officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The visitors were surprised at what they witnessed in Tibet. Retired General Morgan Thomas said Tibet was not as poor as they had thought before the visit.

Tibet had developed as fast as elsewhere in China and, meanwhile, its unique history and civilization are so attractive to them, said the retired general.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2006)