Western allegations of China's "cultural genocide" in Tibet are groundless, a leading Russian expert told Xinhua on Monday.

"The Tibetan culture, one of the most prominent cultural heritages in the world, is preserved well, while cultural and religious activities there are active," said Andrey Ostrovsky, deputy director of the Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Science.

Recalling his visit to in 2007 to Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and another major city, Ostrovsky said some western nations' accusations regarding China's "cultural and religious suppression" were ill-founded.

Tibetan-style elements can be seen on almost all newly built houses in Lhasa and elsewhere on the Himalayan plateau, he said.

"There are no restrictions on Tibetans to study their own language and culture," he said, noting that the Chinese central government is making every effort to foster education in both Tibetan and Chinese languages in the region.

The Chinese central government allocated at least 2 billion U.S. dollars to Tibet in 2006 to ensure local fiscal balance and for investment in social projects such as education and health care, he said, referring to local government figures.

"Tibet will take a step backward if such assistance is abolished," he added.

The Russian expert also rejected allegations that the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the first of its kind to connect Tibet with the outside world, had caused damage to Tibetan culture.

"How could it be possible? Transportation facilitates development and it impressed me most that the Chinese could overcome all the difficulties and establish such a railway through such a complicated land," he said.

The opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in July 2006 has, in fact, boosted the autonomous region's tourism industry.

A record 4.02 million tourists visited Tibet last year, 1.5 million more than the previous year, according to the local tourism bureau.

Ostrovsky also condemned the recent violent disruptions of the Olympic torch relay, saying that the protesters' aim of sabotaging the Beijing Olympics was doomed to failure.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2008)