The English edition of China Tibetology, long awaited by Tibetologists at home and abroad, is now being published after years of intense preparation. We would like to extend our sincere greetings and good wishes to domestic and foreign friends in Tibet studies circles through this magazine.

During the 21 st century, an era with peace and development as its themes, Tibetan studies will experience new richness and growth. The purpose of this issue is to open up new ground for Tibetologists at home and abroad to publish research findings and to exchange relevant information; as we live in the homeland of Tibetan studies, this is our unshirkable duty. We will do our utmost for the development of Tibetan studies, for the construction of material and spiritual civilization in Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas, and for the scientific research work of Tibetologists. This is not only our aim in issuing this magazine, but also our long-term goal.

Tibet has long been an important inalienable part of the territory of China. As valued members of the Chinese nation, Tibetans, together with Han people and other nationalities, helped create traditional Chinese civilization. Vast quantities of Tibetan and Chinese documents and remarkable, valuable cultural relics are the most precious, direct and authoritative historical materials and tangible evidence for Tibetan studies.

According to reliable documents, at least 1,000 years ago Tibetan and Han scholars conducted studies of Tibet and its history, and wrote myriad works, laying the historical foundations for modern Tibetan studies. In China, strictly speaking, scientific Tibetan studies emerged after the founding of the People's Republic of China. In the mid-20th century, a group of scholars with great academic achievemnts made great strides in Tibetan studies by using historical materialism and dialectical materialism views and methods, making their due contributions to the peaceful liberation of Tibet and its democratic reform.

With the prosperous development of the economy and culture since the opening-up, Tibetan studies have flourished just as the spring returns to the earth after each winter. New professional research institutions and academic publications have emerged that are not only reasonable in distribution but also outstanding in individual specialties Scientific and research personnel with modern knowledge are appearing like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, constituting a research group composed of the mature, the middle-aged and the young in a rationally arranged professional structure. A Tibetological system with Chinese characteristics has gradually come into being. Developing the western regions of China has again created a rare historical chance for prosperity and development of Tibetan studies, as well as ample scope for Tibetologists to exercise their ability. We will make every effort fo reflect the latest scientific achievements of Chinese Tibetologists, introduce the trends of China's Tibetan studies, and convey information. It is our hope that colleagues of various countries will gain a general understanding of China's Tibetan studies with the help of this academic "window".

We also hope to" make friends by our writings."An old saying in China goes like this:"learn from each other by exchanging views to improve." That means we should exchange views and learn from other's strong points to offset weaknesses in academic research. We can thereby complement each other so as to develop and make progress. We sincerely hope that this magazine will become a bridge to connect Tibetologists all over the world and that it will receive support and help from you. Please let us know of your latest findings and research information in Tibetan studies, as well as your requests and hopes. Please join us to keep the Tibetan studies field running smoothly and well.