The Tibetan culture is well preserved and the cultural development there is prosperous, a Russian sinologist told Xinhua Thursday.

The Chinese government is preserving the Tibetan culture sincerely, said Vinogrotschi, chief editor of the Russian magazine China, in a written interview with Xinhua.

Recalling his visit in 2007 to Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, and several other major cities, Vinogrotschi said he was left with a deep impression by some of the religious sites and places of interest.

The 51-year-old sinologist, who has devoted himself to the research of ancient Chinese culture for a long time, took part in the translation of a series of Chinese classics, including I Chingand Inner Canon of Huangdi.

The preservation and development of culture in modern society is not an easy job, Vinogrotschi said. "I believe that China wants to solve the problem and is pursuing the harmonious and right way to do it. This is what I saw (in Tibet)," he added.

Also impressing Vinogrotschi during his visit is the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the first of its kind to connect Tibet with other parts of China. He described the project as a "tremendous blessing" to the Tibetans.

Showing great interest in the Himalayan plateau, Vinogrotschi expressed willingness to introduce Tibet to Russian readers. "It needs extremely careful and deep research on Tibet, and more material related should be published," he said.

Vinogrotschi hoped that China will continue to present the true picture of Tibet to the international community, so that the public will not listen to groundless accusations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2008)