Tibetan culture week opened in New Zealand
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.
(
December 4, 2001)