Ragdi, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, Tuesday sent a letter of congratulation for China Tibet Culture Festival, which is to run in Austria from Oct. 18 to 29.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of China-Austria diplomatic ties, and the Austrian government is hosting a series of events marking "China Year".

Ragdi, in his letter, said the Tibetan people had created over hundreds of years a brilliant and colorful ethnic culture with diligence, bravery and intelligence. The event in Austria would reflect the development of Tibet since the founding of new China in 1949.

He hoped the festival would strengthen the Austrian people's understanding of the traditional culture and current status of Tibet, and promote the mutual understanding between the Chinese and Austrian peoples.

A spokesman for the Chinese Association for Cultural Exchanges with Foreign Countries said the festival is the sixth large exhibition abroad of Tibetan culture since 2001.

It would include an exhibition of more than 200 photos selected from 150,000 pictures by 100 photographers from 19 countries who were invited to take photos in Tibet last year.

Helmut Strohmer, a well-known Austrian photographer, is also expected to display 50 works, showing impressions of modern life in Tibet.

Fifteen Tangkar -- traditional song and dance -- performances would illustrate the religion, medicine and history of Tibet, the spokesman said.

A song and dance ensemble will perform folk songs and dances. The organizers have invited four Tibetologists and living Buddhas to give lectures at universities and meet with Austrian Tibetologists.