A special gathering was organized in Beijing on Sunday to celebrate the Tibetan New Year, which falls on Thursday.

The New Year under the Tibetan calendar coincides with the Spring Festival this year. In accordance with the Tibetan calendar, the year 2008 will be the year of "Tushu" or "earth rat".

The gathering, organized by the business office of Tibet Autonomous Region in Beijing and China Tibetan Studies Center, was attended by 300 Tibetans who are working, pursuing study, or living in Beijing, as well as other central and local Chinese government officials.

Hao Peng, deputy secretary of Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), briefed the participants about Tibet's economic achievements in the past year.

The participants were also entertained with Tibetan dances and songs at the function.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)