"Snow-covered Plateau", the Chinese painting exhibition on Tibet, was inaugurated here on Friday, drawing an enthusiastic welcome from the Italian public.

People attending the opening ceremony said they were impressed by the displayed works, which depict traditional and daily scenes of modern Tibet and show unique techniques of Chinese painters.

Mica Fiori, an Italian art journalist, said she was "fascinated by the different scenes portrayed," especially the drawings on Tibetan nomads.

"In these pictures I am captured by the faces of the people who seem to belong to ancient past times. It's incredible the way the artists have drawn the expressions of the protagonists," she said.

The "Snow-covered Plateau" exhibition, which represents a cultural and artistic opportunity to enhance the friendship and exchanges between China and Italy, aimed to make Tibet and its people better known to the Italian public.

"When I look at the paintings I really feel like going to Tibet myself to see all these wonderful places," added Fiori.

The works of art, ranging from prints to oil paintings and watercolors, depict Tibet's natural and pastoral scenes and the people's happiness.

The Italy-China Foundation President Cesare Romiti said in his inauguration speech, "it's the first time works of art of contemporary famous Chinese painters are exhibited in Italy".

What impressed the Italian public was in fact the originality of the works displayed.

"I am impressed by the techniques and colors used by the artists," explained art critic Luisa Haller.

"Usually we are accustomed to seeing Chinese ancient art, but here it's contemporary Chinese painting we are admiring," she added.

Haller went on to analyze the artworks, saying that Tibet's most dominating natural elements, light and space, were well depicted.

"The observer really gets a feeling of those immense green empty spaces full of sunshine, it's as if he were actually in Tibet," she noted. "It's very interesting to see for the first time these drawings because they are very representative of Tibetan local culture and traditions."

Meanwhile, Gianfranco Ricciardi, a lawyer with a great passion for paintings, said he was astonished by the "harmony, freshness, naturalness and emotions conveyed by the drawings". His favorite scenes were the snowy plateaus of Tibet.

Hosted at Palazzo Venezia art center of Rome, the exhibition will last 8 days with more than 60 paintings by Chinese artists, who will also present their paintings on Tibet in another exhibition to be held in Milan on Oct. 26-31.

The artistic exposition followed a two-day international forum on Tibet's development which was held in Rome on Thursday and Friday, jointly sponsored by the State Council Information Office of China, the Italy-China Foundation of Italy and the Chinese Embassy in Italy.