Messages on the exhibition on Tibet

From dark to brilliant, from undeveloped to developing, from poor to rich, from despotism to democracy, from blocked-out to open - that is Tibet's past and present. That is the big change in the plateau, the real story about Tibet.

He Huahong, a volunteer of Beijing Olympic Games

I think China should have a budget to build a museum about Tibetan culture, to show the huge change before and after the liberation as well as its history and culture. That will be a permanent base for the project on cultures of all ethnic groups. This museum will be a good place to serve any people who come to Beijing.

The communications between Tibet and the outside world are not sufficient, which leads to so much misunderstanding. We need to focus more on Tibet, but stability and development should be the most important issues.

A resident in Beijing

A huge change has happened in Tibet. That is a fact no one can deny.

Some Westerners and the Dalai Lama try to split China, which is a shameless crime.

The Western invaders robbed China when China was weak, and now some Western people try to contain China by supporting secessionist activities and sabotage plots in China. We should be aware of their tricks and traps.

Yi Jiajun, 80 years old

I cannot hold my emotion, because no word can describe the big change of Tibet.

I was in Lhasa in 1990, worked for a SINOPEC's aid project in Tibet. I have seen the big changes of Tibet in less than 20 years.

We cannot ignore the contribution of our Party and our government. I am strongly against any move to split China. I support our central government. This is a good exhibition, and I am so excited and inspired. Wish Tibet a wonderful tomorrow.

An employee of SINOPEC

An open letter from an African

I am here for a short working visit, and have had an experience that I would love to share.

First of all, there are false assumptions that have portrayed Africa as the world's greatest curse.

Diseases, hunger and famine have not helped ease the picture, but nor has the continuous assessment by some Western states that see Africa from a hyped media angle.

The Western media looks for the worst about Africa, and like Africa, your country is demonized for its independence in thinking and for believing in its values and its freedoms.

The Africa-China summit in 2006 and other diplomatic meetings between African states and China show a new relationship that is summed up in mutual reverence of two unique peoples, unified by the mutual respect for each other, and inspired by the desire for a harmonious existence of mankind.

I also write to express my sorrow for the quake victims, and commend the Chinese people for standing up tall in responding to the tragedy.

I write to express an outsider's view, of a situation that only so temporarily broke the hearts of the people, naturally; yet made them even stronger in the wake of such a tragedy.

I write to say that China has provided unique lessons on how a whole nation stands together at difficult moments.

I write to say that China has shown the world a universal language of care and humanity.

I write to commend the Chinese people for believing that hope does exist.

I write before I leave for Africa, that there can be no greater and more universal language than unity that inspires peoples of great nations to rise up against prejudices.

I cannot speak Chinese, yet share a language so deeply understood by a country that opens its hearts beyond race.

I write to borrow the warmth and respect, the knowledge, wealth, values and ideals of the Chinese people, to share them with the people of Uganda.

I write to tell of a story of a country which inspires other nations, to find their destiny, in providing for above all their people.

Pamela Ankunda, an Ugandan visiting China for the first time

via e-mail

Readers' comments are welcome. Please send mail to Letters to the Editor, China Daily, 15 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029 China. Send faxes to (86-10) 6491-8377. Send e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected] or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.

(China Daily 06/18/2008 page9)