The China Tibetan Culture Week opened in New Zealand's most populous city, Auckland, on Monday.

More than 200 people attended the opening ceremony in the Sky City in the Downtown area, including Philips Warren, chairman of the Auckland Regional Council, members of the Parliament, leading officials of Auckland city and nearby cities, and representatives of local overseas Chinese organizations.

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Chen Mingming, and Chinese Consul General in Auckland Zhao Xiangling also attended the ceremony.

Profound changes have taken place in Tibet since its liberation

Speaking at the ceremony, Tsering Drolkar, vice-chairwoman of the Foreign Cultural Exchange Association of Tibet Autonomous Region, said that over the past five decades since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, "profound positive changes have taken place in Tibet's economy and society. Tibet is catching up quickly in its modernization strive."

"In the long process of history, the Tibetan people have created a splendid culture with distinct regional and ethnic features. Attaching great importance to the preservation and development of the fine traditional culture of the Tibetan people, the central and regional governments have invested a large sum of money to preserve and carry forward the cultural heritage of Tibet since the peaceful liberation," she said.

Drolkar believed local New Zealanders will come to the same conclusion through what they will see during the culture week when there will be a picture exhibition, film shows, TV programs and ethnic performances.

China first introduced Tibet to the world in a comprehensive way

Warren said he thanked the China Tibetan people for "bestowing us with such a sincere and generous gift by bringing the festival to our country and to our region."

Living on the Roof of the World, Tibetans are known for their unique arts including singing, dancing and painting, he said.

Warren wished a complete success of the China Tibetan Culture Week.

The event is organized by The Asia Pacific Culture Connection Center of New Zealand, China International Culture Association, and the Foreign Cultural Exchange Association of Tibet Autonomous Region.

This is the first time for China to make an overall introduction of the Tibetan nature, geography, history, culture, religion, art, economy and Tibetan people's life to the international societies in a comprehensive way of pictures, films, TV programs and performances.

(People's Daily December 4, 2001)