Delegates from various countries attending a forum in Lhasa have expressed their appreciation toward the changes that have occurred in Tibet.
According to China Daily, overseas participants at the 2016 Forum on the Development of Tibet were able to do some sightseeing ahead of the gathering, enabling them to see the region's natural sceneries and cultural landmarks.
"In Egypt we had little information about Tibet and I knew Tibet mostly from novels, and Tibet is depicted as a primitive place of isolation," Ahmed Zarif Alkadi told China Daily.
Alkadi, a professor at Egypt's Minia University, said that he had a different impression of Tibet when he was in Egypt.
"But here I have found a lot of modern elements, and people here are plain and kind," Alkadi said. It was his first time to visit the region, saying that he was stunned by its natural surroundings.
Other participants pointed out improvements in Lhasa, Tibet's capital.
Jim Stoopman, who represented Brussels' European Institute for Asian Studies, said he had witnessed developments in Lhasa from his last visit six years ago.
"It starts with the road from the airport to the city," Stoopman said in a China Daily interview. He also cited several new apartment buildings as he visited monasteries and agricultural farms a few days ahead of the forum.
"I think the central government in China is trying its best and putting all efforts to develop the region and livelihood of the people," Stoopman said. "We've seen some examples in the past few days. Tibet is really developing and people are moving out of poverty. It's easier for minorities to go to universities, to enjoy good primary education, and to learn their languages."
The 2016 Forum on the Development of Tibet aims to discuss poverty alleviation efforts in the region. According to the regional government, measures suggested by scholars and experts at the gathering can help eradicate poverty by 2020.