BEIJING - Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin Wednesday stressed the importance of protecting and developing Tibetan culture.

"The preservation and development of Tibetan culture bears on the inheritance of the centuries-old Tibetan history, the advancement of social and economic development in Tibet, and the unity of the nation," Jia said at a meeting with representatives of the second congress of the China Association for the Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

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Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), spoke highly of the association's work over the six years since it was founded.

He encouraged the association to continue to contribute to the preservation of Tibetan culture and to promote the common prosperity and unity of ethnic groups in Tibet.

Jia also urged the association to further promote the achievements of Tibetans during the progress of modernization.

The association's second congress opened Tuesday and concluded Wednesday afternoon.

Pagbalha Geleg Namgyae, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, was elected president of the association.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Ragdi, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, were elected the association's vice presidents.