A website on Tibetan culture? run by the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture (CAPDTC) has been launched, just in time for the Tibetan New Year on Tuesday.

The website, www.tibetculture.net, provides an introduction to Tibetan society, and features the protection and development of local culture, a source with the CAPDTC told Xinhua on Sunday.

The website offers 20 columns of interest, including "Tibetan News," "Study on Tibet," "Religious World," "Focus on Tibet," "Listen to Tibet" "Tibetan Folk Customs," "Green Outlook," "Tibetan Celebrities" and "Cultural Exchanges".

"Tibetan News" provides news updates, while "Listen to Tibet" replays local radio broadcasts on-line in both the Tibetan and Han languages, the source said.

CAPDTC is a non-governmental organization consisting of people from both home and abroad who care for the protection and development of Tibetan culture.

Raidi, a Tibetan and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, serves as one of the three honorary chairmen of the association. The association's chairman is Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2006)