Western audiences are interested in learning more about Tibet, and there is great potential for research cooperation with western scholars regarding Tibetan issues, Hao Shiyuan, a Chinese scholar, said in Vienna on Friday.

Hao, assistant to the president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made the remarks in a speech on the cultural and historical background of the Tibet Autonomous Region at the University of Vienna.

Hao said that he noticed some positive changes in attitudes in Europe during his visit, especially in Germany.

He said that westerners, especially German politicians and some law makers have an eagerness to communicate and to learn more about Tibet, wanting to enhance the mutual understanding between the two sides.

The scholar said that much of the research from Chinese scholars on Tibetan history is partially based on western journalist's records and photos of Tibet, which show the darkness of serfdom in Tibetan history before the abolition of serfdom by the Chinese government.

Headed by Hao, the Chinese cultural delegation from the country's Tibet Autonomous Region is visiting Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The scholar said advancements have been made in various aspects in modern-day Tibet, and that it is just the "beginning" of its development.

In Europe, people who are interested in Tibetan culture and history normally obtain the information from reports in the western media.

In Germany, the delegation met with representatives of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and welcomed a Tibetan-German dictionary project being carried out by the academy.

Hao said German scholars are also conducting research on Tibet, and that there is a big potential for research cooperation between both parties.