A Chinese Tibetologist as well as archaeologist said in a recent interview with China Tibet Information Center in Beijing that the remarkable achievements China's Tibet Autonomous Region has gained in archeological research is just enough to refute the so-called "cultural genocide" by the Dalai Lama.

"The 'cultural genocide' brought forward by the 14th Dalai Lama proved to be unscientific in the face of great achievements of archeological research in Tibet," Dr. Huo Wei, head of the Sichuan University Museum as well as deputy head of the Academy of History & Culture of Sichuan University told to China Tibet Information Center.

"I think the very favorable turning-point of Tibet's archeological study takes place after China's reform and opening-up policy," said Huo Wei.

Archeological research in old Tibet could be unorganized and mindless as it was mainly carried out by a few explorers, archaeologists, experts or businessmen who cherish different purposes. Restricted by special geographical, historical and religionary elements in Tibet as well as deficient finance, technique and material at that time, archeological research, especially excavation of underground cultural heritages, was undeveloped, compared with that of ground, according to Huo Wei.

"After performing the reform and opening-up policy, Tibet has achieved remarkable achievements in archeological research, both underground and ground, with the financial, material and technical supports from central government," said Huo Wei.

"It greatly facilitates the study of Tibet's prehistoric period as well as civilization, which is infeasible before the reform and opening-up policy."

According to Huo Wei, a great deal of rare cultural relics were found during last decades, including the noted inscription Da Tang Tian Zhu Shi Chu Ming which tells the way the envoys from great Tang Dynasty to Tian Zhu (current India), and Pi Yang Dong Ga Buddhism Cave where numerous invaluable frescos are housed.

Since the reform and opening-up policy, China has organized three general surveys of cultural relics in Tibet, including the ongoing 3rd time. It is expected that cultural relics of the current survey will be doubled, compared with 2,000 obtained in previous surveys, he added.

Huo Wei said:"Protection of cultural heritage can promote the tourism industry in Tibet, it is more important as such projects do save and carry forward the long and rich history and culture of Tibet."

"The reform and opening-up policy is a monumental work of Tibet's archeological work with great significance," he added.

"Another action China made for Tibet is to protect and repair the cultural heritages at the cost of huge investment, such as repairing the three key cultural heritages in Tibet, maintaining dozens of units of cultural relics protection and etc., which definitely contribute to the centuries to come."

"So I think the Chinese central government has spared no pains to protect the culture of Tibet, especially historical materials, thus proving the 'cultural genocide' said by the Dalai Lama is not seeking truth from facts," Huo Wei emphasized.