Efforts to preserve Tibetan culture lauded

GENEVA — A prominent Chinese scholar has hailed central authorities and those in the Tibet autonomous region for making great efforts in respecting, preserving, inheriting and promoting traditional Tibetan culture.

Zheng Dui, director of the China Tibetology Research Center, said Tibetan culture is being rejuvenated through “cultural integration of tradition and modernity”.

Speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 37th United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland — which was sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies — he said the preservation of Tibetan culture is an ongoing and comprehensive project that should be based on full, accurate and in-depth understanding among all parties.

The ultimate purpose ... is to achieve continuous development for Tibetan culture in an evolving world.”

Zheng Dui, director of the China Tibetology Research Center

“Real preservation is rooted in knowledge and comprehension,” he said. “It means respecting Tibetan culture based on comprehension, carrying out preservation measures based on respect, succeeding in the preservation process, and inheriting and promoting the culture at the same time.

“The ultimate purpose of inheriting and promoting is to achieve continuous development for Tibetan culture in an evolving world so that it can make further contributions to human civilization.”

Zheng said the study and use of the Tibetan language is being effectively protected, and the government has set up several training bases and comprehensive research institutes, such as Tibet University, Tibetan Traditional Medicine College, the China Tibetology Research Center and the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences.

He told the audience that China’s central government and local authorities see Tibetan Buddhist culture as an important component of traditional Chinese culture, and always provide effective preservation while ceaselessly strengthening efforts in collection, collation and publication of religious classics.

For example, he said, it took more than 100 experts on the Tibetan language and 20 years to finish collating and publishing the Buddhist canonical work Tibetan Tripitaka, with substantial financial support from the central government.

“Tibetan culture is an important part of Chinese culture. The inception and development of Tibetan culture enriches human culture,” he said.