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The first General History of Tibet is being compiled by the China Tibetology Research Centre, and Lhapa Puntso, secretary-general of the centre, extended invitations recently to Taiwan Tibetologists to participate in the project.

Highly praising the achievements of Taiwan Tibetologists, Lhapa said their participation would be of great help in producing a "high-quality and complete" historical picture of Tibet, representing the highest level of Tibetological study.

His invitation, which was made at the opening ceremony of the centre's first Cross-Straits Seminar on Tibetan History, has drawn a warm response from Jiunn Yih Chang, a leading Tibetologist from Taiwan. He and six other Tibetologists from Taiwan attended the seminar.

Chang said he and his colleagues are excited to learn about decisions regarding the compilation and would like to pledge their contribution.

"The study of Tibetan history is more or less a virgin land in comparison with that of other parts of Chinese history," said Chang. "But it is indispensable to the study of China and the Chinese people."

According to Chang, the study of Tibetan history has been focused largely on Tibetan religion and politics, but the General History of Tibet should present many other things like economics, culture, technology and the status of women.

Chang also said that the purpose of the General History of Tibet, as well as the purpose of Tibetology overall, should be the better development of Tibet and the Tibetan people.

Meanwhile, Chang defended the renovation of the Barkhor Bazaar encircling the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

"The area is more spacious and tidy after the renovation, and has kept much of the old Tibetan taste," said Chang. "Above all, we found Tibetan people there are glad to have had their living conditions improved."