China to hold 4th forum on the development of Tibet

BEIJING: China has invited more than 40 overseas representatives to attend the fourth forum on the development of Tibet next week in the provincial capital Lhasa.

It is the first time that so many overseas representatives will participate in an international forum on Tibet, an official statement said today.

The topic of this year's forum, to be held between August 12-13, is "Opportunities and choices for Tibet's development."

Issues concerning the protection of Tibetan culture and environment will also be highlighted, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

After the forum, nearly 100 representatives from China and abroad will conduct field trips in Lhasa and Nyingchi, to "experience the real Tibet," the statement said.

Nyingchi is located close to Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of southern Tibet.

The forum was first held in 2007 in Vienna, Austria.