ROME: A two-day forum on development of China's Tibet autonomous region opened yesterday in Rome, attended by more than 400 participants from China, Italy, Austria, Canada, India, Australia, Spain and Belgium.

More than 20 Chinese and foreign government officials, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs, including some ethnic Tibetans, gathered to explore opportunities for cooperation in Tibet's economic, social and cultural sectors.

Participants welcomed the event - the first large-scale international exchange program on Tibet since last year's March 14 violence in Lhasa - for bringing to the international community the latest, first-hand information on Tibet's development, which will sure enhance the world's understanding of the region, said Cesare Romiti, President of Italia-China Foundation, co-sponsor of the forum.