China's Tibetan delegation wraps up visit to Ireland

A Chinese Tibetan delegation on July 25 wrapped up its two-day trip to Ireland, where they visited a government department, a university and a think tank.

The delegation visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UCD Confucious Institute, and the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), where they talked with government officials, teachers and researchers on issues ranging from the Belt and Road Initiative to Tibetan economic development and its environmental protection.

Wang Chunhuan, vice dean of the Tibetan Academy of Social Science, said the Belt and Road Initiative, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will bring development opportunities to China's Tibetan area, adding that Tibet will adapt itself to the initiative, build a gateway to South Asia and enhance trade and cultural exchanges with South Asian countries.

She also said Tibet's economy continues to keep a double digit growth for over two decades, adding that Tibet has great potentials in areas like handicrafts, agriculture and animal husbandry, Tibetan medicine, natural drinking water, and tourism.

John Murphy, deputy director of Asia-Pacific Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said he was happy to see Tibet's higher economic growth and spoke highly of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The Chinese initiative will benefit both China and other countries along the Belt and Road, he added.

Ireland is the second leg of the delegation's visit, which also took the delegation to Britain.