French reporter acclaims new Tibet

　　(Source: People's Daily Online)

　　BEIJING, July 22 -- Patrick Fluckiger, special correspondent for the French "Alsace News", carried out a week's worth of interviews in the Tibet Autonomous Region in June, 2009. When he went back to France, he wrote several articles about the region, showing French audiences a beautiful Tibet which is transforming from a traditional place into a modern one.

　　People visit an exhibition marking Tibet's 50th Anniversary of Democratic Reform in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Gaesang Dawa)

　　During his time in Tibet, Patrick communicated with officials from departments of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, visited schools, hospitals, factories and other places. He interviewed cadres, teachers, entrepreneurs, migrant workers among others, and also visited some religious sites and a large photo exhibition named "Tibet: Past and Present" in Lhasa.

　　After the interviews, Patrick was astonished by, and expressed admiration for, Tibet's social and economic development and the improvement in the people's living standards.

　　He believes that Tibet's development is closely connected with the leadership of the central government and the support offered by the whole country. The central government has made great efforts to protect the Tibetan culture; it is completely different from the so-called "Extinction of Tibetan Culture" reported by some western media. Patrick also made some positive comments about the current situation of religious freedom in Tibet.

　　He also noticed that Tibet is experiencing a significant transformation from traditional to modern. The Tibetan people are still religious, but that doesn't stop the march of trade and commerce. In pedestrian streets around Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, booths selling Tibetan handicrafts are abundant. In wide streets around Lhasa, automobiles run ceaselessly. Exclusive shops bearing various international brand names prove that globalization deeply penetrated the snow-capped plateau.