The "Tibetan Arts and Culture Exhibition" opened at the Chinese Embassy in Wellington on Monday.

The exhibition features over 140 pictures and dozens of books, pictorials about the arts and culture of Tibet, such as monasteries, religions, earth and metal statues with Buddhist images, murals, furniture decorations, wood and rock carvings, yakmilk butter sculpture, Tibetan opera, traditional sports games, folk literature and entertainment, ornaments, architecture, housing, Tibetan food and tableware etc.

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Chen Mingming, who presided over the opening ceremony, noted that the Chinese government has paid great attention to protecting and developing the outstanding traditional culture of the Tibetan nationality.

In the past more than 40 years, the Chinese central government and the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region have allocated abig amount of money to preserve and enrich the Tibetan culture, and develop modern scientific, educational and cultural undertakings in Tibet.

"Now, culture of Tibetan ethnic group has entered a period of prosperous development," Chen Mingming stressed.

Among the more than 100 guests attending the opening ceremony were members of the New Zealand Parliament, diplomatic envoys and local celebrities.

Organized by the Chinese Embassy in Wellington, the exhibition will be open to public for a week. Enditem