Special report: Tibet: Its Past and Present

    LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of Chinese Tibetologists has visited Britain and held talks with British officials and members of parliament to promote understanding and exchange of views between the two countries.

    During a press conference Thursday, Bi Hua, senior researcher with China Tibetology Research Center, said that the Chinese people were infuriated by the disruption of Olympic torch relay in London in April, adding that those who have been involved in the activities were only a small bunch.

    "There are over 100,000 Tibetan compatriots living outside China. Most of them don't support Tibetan independence, instead, they wish to do something that will benefit their hometown," said Bi, who headed the five-member delegation.

    As for the influence of Han Chinese culture over the Tibetan culture, the researcher said that exchanges between the two ethnic cultures could date back to ancient times with many relics as proof.

    "Exchanges between different cultures are vital to the development of those cultures," Bi stressed.

    The Tibetologist delegation arrived in London Tuesday. They have held talks with officials from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Parliament members and experts from the Royal Institute of International Affairs in Britain.

    The delegation will also meet with Tibetologists at Cambridge University and Chester before a visit to Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Center in Scotland.