(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-27 15:13

TARTU, Estonia -- As part of China's traditional culture, Tibetan culture could not have developed so rapidly in the last few decades without the support of the Chinese central government, experts from a visiting Tibet delegation said Wednesday.

The delegation of Tibetologists and Living Buddhas arrived Tuesday in Estonia on a tour to introduce Tibetan culture to the eastern European country.

Changngopa Tseyang, vice president of Tibet University, introduced to the students of Tartu University the development of Tibetan culture after the founding of New China in 1949, which served as a turning point.

Since then, Tibetan culture has become a common wealth of all Tibetan people, instead of being dominated by a few aristocrats and high-ranking monks.

With the active support of central government, the traditional Tibetan language has been studied and enhanced, cultural heritage protected and religion respected, Tseyang said, adding that government efforts have led to comprehensive progress in Tibetan culture.

Tseyang said the Tibetan education system has also seen breakthroughs. Aside from education opportunities for all, Tibet established a university of its own in 1985, which is now a stronghold of Tibetan culture research.

Another Tibetologist from China's Northwest University for Nationalities said a Tibetan dictionary had been something hard to find in the old years -- a vivid contrast to recent years during which Tibetan people have gained the opportunity of being able to consult over 40 language dictionaries and use Tibetan-version software.