ＰＲＯＭＯＴＩＮＧ　ＡＮＤ　ＡＤＶＡＮＣＩＮＧ　ＴＨＥ　ＶＥＲＶＥ　ＯＦ　ＴＨＥ　ＳＮＯＷ　ＬＡＮＤ.docVIP

ＰＲＯＭＯＴＩＮＧ　ＡＮＤ　ＡＤＶＡＮＣＩＮＧ　ＴＨＥ　ＶＥＲＶＥ　ＯＦ　ＴＨＥ　ＳＮＯＷ　ＬＡＮＤ 　　 　　Madam Liu Yandong is delivering a speech at the first China Tibetan Culture Forum.Photo by Cheng Peng 　　 　　The First China Tibetan Culture Forum is convened in the autumn of Beijing. Just as the ancient Chinese would express that its always a pleasure to greet a friend from afar, Id like to congratulate the convening of the forum on behalf of the Chinese Government and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, welcome our guests from afar and express heartfelt gratitude to friends from both at home and aboard for your contribution made to the preservation and development of the Tibetan culture over the years! 　　 　　China is a unified country of 56 ethnic nationalities. In her history, all nationalities have pooled their wisdom into the creation of a time-honoured and splendid Chinese culture and unique cultures of respective nationalities. Culture, as the spirit of a nation, serves as the basis of the very existence of the latter. The power of culture is forged into the vitality, creativity and cohesion of a nation. To understand a particular nation, one must understand its culture; likewise, to respect a nation, one must respect its culture. This forum, with the topic of the preservation and development of Tibetan culture??, discusses the rich connotation and unique charm of the culture and urges its preservation and development. This pageant is therefore significant and of high profile and offers a chance for the gathering of people in the business, administration and the academic circles. 　　 　　Tsewang Namgyal,the well-known artist,from Lhasa,is painting his Thangka.Photo by Cheng Peng 　　 　　Tibet is a beautiful and endowed part of China; the Tibetan nationality is an important member of the family of the Chinese nation. For dozens of centuries, the diligent, kind, brave and resilient peoples of all nationalities in Tibet have lived on the roof of the world, the snow land of the plateauan