国内英语新闻：Exhibition on Tibet's past, present held in Beijing

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun and Zhou Yongkang, members of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, visited a large-scale theme exhibition, "Tibet, the Past and the Present," on Wednesday.

    During their separate visits, they were shown around the 160 material exhibits and more than 400 pictures. The exhibition is being held in two halls of the Nationalities Cultural Palace.

Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, visits a large-scale theme exhibition, "Tibet, the Past and the Present," on Wednesday.

The exhibition shows the backwardness of Old Tibet and the development and progress of New Tibet, as well as the inseparable, historic links between Tibet and the Chinese nation.

    Tibet is in its best period in history and the exhibition shows the great changes in the Tibet Autonomous Region in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, visits a large-scale theme exhibition, "Tibet, the Past and the Present," on Wednesday.

Li, who is responsible for the Party's ideological work, said the exhibition exposes the darkness, cruelty and backwardness of Old Tibet and the hypocritical face of the ** Lama as a "human rights guardian," "missionary of peace" and "spiritual leader."

    The historic materials show that Tibet has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times, as the Chinese central government has exercised effective sovereign rule over Tibet, said Zhou, the secretary of the CPC Central Committee for Political and Legislative Affairs.

Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, visits a large-scale theme exhibition, "Tibet, the Past and the Present," on Wednesday.

The senior Party officials all pledged to safeguard the achievements of New Tibet, the happy lives of Tibetans and prosperity, development, harmony and stability in Tibet.

    Other senior Party and State officials visiting the exhibition on the same day included Hui Liangyu, Liu Yunshan, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu and Du Qinglin.

    The exhibition is sponsored by the United Front Department of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council Information Office, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the regional government of Tibet. It will be open to the public between April 30 and July 25,free of charge.