Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was elected president of the Association for the Protection and Development of Tibetan Culture, which was established on Monday.

Seven Tibetans, including Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, and six Chinese officials and scholars were elected vice presidents.

Raidi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Liu Yandong, vice chairwoman of the CPPCC National Committee, and Fei Xiaotong and Ji Xianlin, two top Chinese scholars were elected honorable presidents.

"The association will focus its job on the protection and development of the Tibetan culture," said Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai in his closing speech of the association's establishment meeting held from Monday to Tuesday.

According to its constitution, the association aims to carry researches into the history, status quo and development trend of Tibetan culture, advise the government and other organizations on how to protect and develop Tibetan culture.

It could also sponsor exhibitions and symposiums on Tibetan culture in the world, engages in international exchanges so as to enable the world to know Tibet better and raises funds for the protection of fine traditional culture in Tibet.

According to Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, the association would serve as a platform to display Tibetan culture to the world.

Experts consider the association a major event for the development and protection of the Tibetan culture.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2004)