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Devout Tibtan old granny. Photo by Gan Zhanglin

From October 10th to 19th in 2006, the First China Tibetan Culture Forum was held at Beijing and then at Lhasa. Over one hundred of scholars, experts, intellectuals, and board members of the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture attended to forum. Participants were from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and twelve other countries. Over two days' meeting in Beijing, 35 representatives delivered their wonderful speeches by focusing on the preservation and development of Tibetan culture; they also visited the exhibition "Chinese Treasure - Tibetan Cultural Exhibition", China Tibetology Research Center, and Tibetan Middle School in Beijing.

On the 12th, more than 30 representatives took the Qinghai Tibet Railway to travel from Xi Ning to Lhasa. They visited the Jokhang Monastery, Borkor Street, Potala Palace, the Tibetan Museum, the Tibetan Archive, Gyantse, Tashilhunpo Monastery, and Namtso Lake.

I was designated to accompany the delegation on its visit to Tibet. Although it was not my first trip to Tibet, I feel it was quite different because of my traveling partners. Foreign languages were constantly heard around me; in particular, I felt so proud of our motherland and its glory when I heard the exclamations of participants and watched their surprised expressions. "Is this our India sutra?" "This is from our Nepal". Yes, these are all treasures preserved by Tibet.

It was not just myself, but also the delegates in general were extraordinarily impressed. Here are their feelings and comments.

Harish Chandra Chandola, Indian Freelance

It was 53 years ago when I first came to Tibet on foot with an India merchant team. This method of transport was rather backward, and it took us three months to access Tibet. Without any advanced means of travel, we had to sojourn in Tibet for another three months.

As the third visit of Tibet,Mr.Harish Chandra Chandola,a 78 year-old freelance,always likes to question people wherever he visit.

Two years ago, I returned to Tibet. I found dramatic changes that made it impossible to make a comparison with the past. What a fast development is occurred in Tibet! My hometown was close to the boundary of India and China. People always got along with Tibet. We actually purchased salt from the Himalaya region, produced from the lakes in Tibet, because our area did not produce salt. My father was used to planting barley; we took one bag of barley to barter for six bags of salts from Tibetans.

Later, communication between the two sides was interrupted. Merchants from both sides believe that such kinds of trades will definitely benefit both sides. At present, all places in Tibet have gone through a dramatic development, but this has not happened at the border areas between China and India. Though the communication is halted, we believe not only Natoi Port but also many of others are going to open so long as the tie of friendship exists between both sides.

In past years, merchants who came to India from Tibet lived in my father's houses. When I was a little kid, I often heard them speak Tibetan, sing Tibetan songs and dance Tibetan folk dances. I actually learnt several words from them. After I grew up, I left my hometown and worked for Indian media agencies. Today, I come back again to Tibet and return to the boundary areas between China and India. Just couple of minutes ago, I heard the governor of Shigatse government speaking Tibetan, which really brought back memories of my hometown; it was such a wonderful and sweet moment.

I really appreciate being invited to attend this forum and visit Qinghai and Tibet. I was already old, but from my heart I strong desire to see a close relationship established amongst the people living in the border areas of the two countries.

Peter Schwieger, Professor of Bonn University in German

I have two points would like to address here since I traveled in Tibet on this occasion. The first is about the renovation of the monasteries. Many years ago, I visited Tibet and saw that many monasteries were destroyed. By returning to these monasteries in this visit, I see that they are in the process of renovation and reconstruction. That demonstrates that China is making strenuous efforts and investing considerable funds in Tibet.

Professor Peter Schweiger from Bonn University is introducing Kumbum Monastery partners.

Secondly, although there are disadvantages in the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, I believe the advantages account for over 80%. If we dropped up the railway due to the 20% of disadvantages, there would be no more development at all in Tibet. The railway facilitates Tibetans for their travel and transport. The thing that needs to be addressed here is that the measures taken for environmental protection along the railway line demonstrates that China is committed to environmental protection. Unfortunately, the awareness of environmental protection should not only be the concern of a few individuals, but rather all people. I saw some individuals in our group randomly drop litter.

Regarding Tibetan culture, I believe that the Tibetan Museum is part of Tibetan culture, but does not represent it all. Many young people in Tibet are pursuing fashion and living a modern lifestyle. They are fond of art and participate in art-related activities. I suggest that, no matter whether government or NGOs, all should encourage, support, and develop the Tibetan art, music, and literature in order to further and advance a dynamic and vivid Tibetan culture. Only by doing this, will Tibetan culture realize continual development.

I believe that the most important issue for Tibet is education. Tibetan kids should have all possible opportunities to access different languages. The status quo in Tibet is that kids who are enrolled in schools focusing on teaching Chinese could only get access to Chinese and English study, and kids enrolled in the schools mainly teaching Tibetan could only study Tibetan but not English and Chinese. An education system based on three languages should be established in Tibet. When I studied in my university, there were over 3000 students from China, but none were from Tibet. I now know that the Central University for Nationalities has set up classes only for Tibetans, but more efforts are needed. Tibetan society needs some positive and successful examples, it is not necessary to worry if those examples either come from business or the IT industry, but we need to understand that they definitely will not only come from clergies and lamas.

Dr. Arvind Alok, Chairman of India Buddhist Monuments Development Council

Dr. Arind Alok with others at Tibet University

It was a great pleasure to attend the First Tibetan Culture Forum in Beijing. Also it was a unique experience to visit the China's Tibet. The heritage is nicely preserved and the Buddhist glory of Tibet is still the most attractive aspect of the Tibetan people. The monasteries are well preserved and the people visit them with great joy and religious believes. I have no doubt to say that the Government of the People's Republic of China has taken wonderful steps for the advancement of Tibet and also at the same time preserve the Buddhist culture of the people.

The balance between culture and development is essential and this aspect has been taken into consideration while undertaking the development programs in Tibet. I was astonished to see that Tibetans were educated and enjoying the modern lives and at the same time maintaining the traditional value. I appreciate the efforts presently made to give a meaningful and advanced look to Tibet.

India and China are both great nations with great civilizations of the world. Both countries are deeply associated with history and culture. The people of India and China have been always in favor of close and friendly relations. I also appreciate the initiative taken by CAPDTC and I wish all success in the attainment of its objectives.

I suggest that a conference should also be organized on India-China's Tibet Buddhist perspective which will result in the promotive of cultural relationship between the two to a great extent.

Yoshiyasu Yonezawa, Taisho University

Professor Tseyang,the Vice President of Tibet University, is introducing the University to representatives.

It is a tremendous honor and pleasure for me to have been able to participate in the First China Tibetan Culture Forum, which provided opportunities not only to listen to speeches of specialists but also to visit the various Tibetan sites of cultural features. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the arrangement and organization of the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture (CAPDTC), in which theories and practices are well combined.

During the first two days at Beijing, various speeches about Tibetan culture were presented. On the first day, I was very much fortunate to make a speech about Sanskrit manuscripts preserved in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). These source materials are invaluable enough to prove that Tibetan culture has been established by means of the exchange and cooperation with the Indian cultures. They are, needless to say, historical relics of human kind to be well preserved and protected from any damages. However, the contents are expected to be open to the scholars all over the world, for some of the Buddhist texts have been considered lost so far. In this respect, it is a pity that no comprehensive catalogues of the Sanskrit manuscripts preserved in Tibet have been published. Hopefully, such a catalogue is compiled and published by the Tibetan people themselves. If they ask me help, I, as a specialist of Sanskrit manuscripts, would never grudge cooperation with the project. I believe that further researches into the contents or information contained in the Sanskrit manuscripts definitely contribute to development of Tibetan culture. Concerning the Sanskrit manuscripts, I would like to suggest that CAPDTC should divide their task into two ways, i.e., 1) protection and preservation of the material objects and 2) disclosure of the contents or information written on the material objects at least for the scholarly world. Given that limited numbers of the specialists all over the world, international cooperation would be the best way to make more progress of both preservation and development of Tibetan cultures.

It is notable, especially on the first day, that not only the discussion, but also attending the opening ceremony of Tibetan Culture Exhibition at the Capital Museum and meeting with Mr. Jia Qinglin, senior official of the Central Government, at the Great Hall of the People were programmed. Through these events, I understood that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is very much interested in preservation and development of Tibetan culture and of intentions to promote the activities.

I appreciate very much for the Forum in which the opportunity to visit TAR was provided. This was the very first time to take the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Although 26 hours ride from Xining to Lhasa, I felt that my physical condition at Lhasa was much better than those of my last three time visits. Unfortunately, I had to go back to home from Lhasa and could not join the further journey to Shigatse. Nevertheless, I could notice how the past and the present Tibetan culture are well integrated through visiting the Kumbum Monastery and Tibet Medicine Museum in Qinghai at Xining, Johkang monastery, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka, Potola Palace, and Tibet Archives at Lhasa.

Suresh Chandra Chalise(right),Narayan Prakash Sand and Surendra Prasad Pandey are taking photo together,

while visiting Kumbum Monastert.

In the end, I would like to note that diligent efforts of all staff contribute a lot to the success of the First China Tibetan Culture Forum. Thanking all of them for their efforts, I wish CAPDTC continued success and prosperity.

Thanks.

Suresh Chandra Chalise, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Nepal(with Minister of State statues) on Foreign Affairs;

Narayan Prakash Sand, member of Central Working Committee of Nepal Congress(Democratic);

Surendra Prasad Pandey, Central Committee Member of Communist Party of Nepal

We would like to thank the organizer for giving us this invaluable opportunity to participate in the forum. Presentations and deliberation by the national and international experts as different dimensions of Cultural Preservation and Development of Tibet Autonomous Region of China were excellent. We are also delighted to have an opportunity to understand the commitment of Chinese leadership about preservation of Tibetan culture and development of the region during the meeting with H.E. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the CPPCC. We would like to highly commend the Chinese authority acceptance to hold a meeting with the H.E. vice-minister of the Communist Party of China with Nepalese participants in a sideline with the forum. However, time was limited, an interaction among participants and resource persons would have further added value to the deliberation heed in Beijing. Overall impression of the programs in Beijing is excellent.

While traveling from Beijing to Lhasa and during our stay in Lhasa/Tibet, we got chance to see the development of Tibet region and preservation of Tibetan culture. Traveling by railway to Lhasa/Tibetan Plataue was a lifetime memory. We were excited and highly impressed by the marvelous development of TAR, particularly the development of physical infrastractures were marvelous. Transportation, communication, health and education sector development all were commendable, praiser or the examplary. We are confident that all sorts of development activities in TAR would help enhance the living standard of the people in the region. Efforts put on to preserve cultural heritage of TAR also impressed us.

The European participants in a monastery.

Suggestions:

1) Giving similarities of the culture of TAR and Nepalese culture along the northern region, there is a tremendous potential to develop a culture corridor from TAR to Nepal. This development would further contribute the preservation and development of Tibetan Culture and would help promote trans-Himalaya tourism. Trans-Himalaya tourism would contribute to enhance the living standard of Nepalese and TAR people.

2) Putting statue of Maya Devi, mother of Buddha, inside Potala Palace would help further bridge the historical relations between Nepal & TAR.

3) We would like to request the concerned Chinese authority to build a separate temple of Bhrilcuti( Khribtsun).

Overall organization of the program, logistia, accommodation, transportation, food, etc, were flawless. The persons involved in the overall program were friendly, highly helpful, cooperative, caring and hard working. We are impressed by their attentiveness as well as their excellent behaviours.

Thank you.

David Fouquet, Director of Asia-Europe Project Information Service

Picturesque landscape along with Qinghai-Tibet Railway line in Northern Tibet. Photo by Gan Zhanglin

My evaluation of the China Tibetan Cultural Forum is a very positive and beneficial one for me. I am grateful to have been invited and feel it was extremely useful. To me in understanding one important part of China's culture and regional policy.

The forum in Beijing itself could have organized differently with logical groups of fewer speakers on key subjects followed by discussion on each individual topic.

The portion at the Meseum and the audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing were impressive, useful and enjoyable.

The part in Xining was also interesting, diversified and compact. I would have enjoyed more information on Tibetan medicine and less of the Modern Tangka.

The train journey was of course, one of key parts of the trip. Again I would have enjoyed and benefited from more technical, expert information about the project.

The two days of visits in Lhasa were good and useful from virtualle all points. While the visits to Potala and other sites were, of course memorable, I enjoyed at the university and archives, I would have liked that visit to include a stiort discussion or seminar there as part of the intellectual forum.

The trip to Shigatse was also enjoyable. I would also have found useful stops at farms of other contacts with ordinary population and residents to learn more about their way of life. Such personal contacts could have been increased and the official receations and banquets reduced.

These recommendations are meant to be constructive and positive and not to be seen as criticisms. The escort staff was also extremely pleasant and useful.

Joint submission to the China Tibetan Culture Forum by the European Participants:Finn Andersen, Glyn Ford, David Fouguet, Idabel Owen, Philippe Paquet, Peter Schwieger

The undersigned European participants would like to express our gratitude for being invited to participate in this first forum in Beijing and for the opportunity to travel to and within Tibet. We have found both elements of this visit extremely interesting and rewarding and have contributed immensely to a deepening of our understanding of Sino-Tibetan issues as well as a greater understanding of Tibetan culture.

Tibet is now unique region of the People's Republic of China. Its history and culture are rightly prized as part of world heritage. The China Tibetan Culture Forum demonstrates a very real desire within China to preserve and develop this culture.

We live in an ever changing world and the opening up of China and Tibet are part of this process of globalization. It would benefit Tibet to open up its borders, which are currently either closed or only partly open, to the south, which traditionally provided positive socio-economic interaction between communities with shared cultural roots.

The recently opened railway, one of the engineering wonders of the world, that brought us Lhasa, will serve to integrate Tibet into China and bring in the future much that is good and a lillte that is bad . It is a symbol both of China's economic boom, but also that of Tibet. It will spur further private and public inward investment and continue to raise the standard of living for people in Tibet. This will be augmented by growing tourism which will modernize communications, yet will need to be managed if not to physically strain Tibet's cultural heritage.

But this changing world is not just opportunities, it also has its threats, as shown above. The last Party Congress emphasized the importance of dealing with the problem of uneven development between East and West, town and country and the problems of 150 million migrant workers. In Tibet these self-same problems are reflected, with regional disparities and comparative poor growth levels in the countryside where the minority population is at its highest. Rising illegal or at least unauthorized migration threatens at worse the very culture of Tibet and its people which makes it such a special place to be in the first place, while at best denies economic opportunities to the indigenous people. The threat to such a unique culture has to be countered in both a realistic and meaningful way for the Tibet of today and tomorrow.

Culture cannot just be preserved in museums and archives. Culture is the identity and expression of individuals and communities, more than religion or history, it is a way of life. The danger for Tibetan culture is that it is seen as a past way of life or as a religion and preserved as such in museums and temples, nostalgia gift wrapped for the tourist industry. So how to hold on to and develop what is special about Tibet?

The key is education. The opportunity of education and training for all Tibetans. Special training should be given for Tibetan to ensure that at least 50% of, for example, taxi drivers, hairdressers and the like are from the indigenous community as well as professional positions. But education is not about economic aspiration, it is also about cultural pride and providing the tools for students to build their culture of the future. There should be meaningful cultural studies lessons but also Tibetan should be a requirement in all schools in order to preserve cultural expression through language. In Wales despite only a minority of the population using it as their first language, Welsh was made compulsory and is now a requirement for posts dealing with the public.

Culture and education exchanges would help the understanding of Tibetan culture but also for the understanding within Tibetan of other cultures around the world-mutual inspiration and development. This mutual understanding between cultures is co crucial to individual identity but also for building a more harmonious world.

A Living culture is ever changing ever evolving as it comes to terms with global realities. Tibet is no exception, but that does no mean it has to happen without intervention or choice by Tibetans themselves.

We hope to be able to participate in the second China Tibetan Culture Forum. However we feel that in the future the format should include greater debate and dialogue. Perhaps the Forum could include Plenary sessions with a small number of keynote speakers and the media followed by parallel small discussion groups centred around themes or special interests, with a summing up and conclusion in plenary at the end.

Matsunami Yasuo& Niu Litao, Professor of Institute for Comprehensive Studies of Buddhism Taishio University, Japan

Representatives are walking into Tashilhunpo Monastery,after ringing the bell and praying for peace by following the Tibetan custom.

I would like to express my appreciation for generosity and hospitality of China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture below. When I heard about the First China Tibetan Culture Forum at my homeland Japan, all that I expected was academic conference at Beijing. But when I obtained information about the program, I decided to take part in the Forum because a visit to Lhasa via Qinghai-Tibet railway is planned. The news about this railway has been broadcasted in Japan as well. I wanted to actually experience the world-famous railway and congratulate for the success of the National project.

After arrival to China, I was very much surprised at warm-hearted organization of CAPDTC. Not only in Beijing but also in Xining and Lhasa(I could not go to Shigatse), the participants could receive directly welcome messages from the important officials of both central government and provinces, which I did not expect at all. I was impressed by the efforts of the People Republic's of China for preservation and development of Tibetan cultures. As a Buddhist monk, I am interested in Tibetan Buddhism and the related text materials. What I can do is very limited, but I would like to contribute to researches on the Buddhist texts both in Sanskrit and Tibetan preserved in Tibet. I consider it a priviledge to have a part in such a project.

Here in Japan, I pray for the further success of preservation and development of Tibetan culture in which CAPDTC surely plays an important role.