Ragdi, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, yesterday sent a letter of congratulation to the Tibet Culture Festival, which is being held in Austria from today until October 29.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Sino-Austrian diplomatic ties, and the Austrian Government is hosting a series of events marking "China Year."

Ragdi, in his letter, said the Tibetan people had created hundreds of years of brilliant and colorful ethnic culture with diligence, bravery and intelligence. The event in Austria will reflect the development of Tibet since the founding of New China in 1949.

He hoped the festival would strengthen the Austrian people's understanding of the traditional culture and current status of Tibet, and promote mutual understanding between the people of China and Austria.

A spokesman for the Chinese Association for Cultural Exchanges with Foreign Countries said the festival is the sixth largest Tibetan Culture exhibition abroad since 2001.

It will include an exhibition of more than 200 photos selected from 150,000 pictures by 100 photographers from 19 countries, who were invited to take photos in Tibet last year.

Helmut Strohmer, a well-known Austrian photographer, is also expected to display 50 works, showing impressions of modern life in Tibet.

An ensemble will perform folk songs and dances. The organizers have invited four Tibetologists and living Buddhas to give lectures at universities and meet with Austrian Tibetologists.

Andreas Khol, president of the National Council of Austria, sent a congratulatory message on Monday. Khol said in the message he was very glad that the festival was being held in Austria on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Austria-China diplomatic ties.

(China Daily October 18, 2006)