ACC Secretary-General Exchanged Views with Leaders of the Ministry of Culture of China

On 7-9 November 2015, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with leaders of the Ministry of Culture of China and had in-depth exchange of views on further enhancing ASEAN-China cultural exchanges and cooperation.

On 8 November 2015, H.E. Mr. Luo Shugang, Minister of Culture of China met with prominent figures and representatives from the international organizations in Asia attending the 14th Asia Arts Festival, the 2nd Maritime Silk Road Festival and the 3rd Asia Cultural Forum in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. H.E. Mr. Phinij Jarusombat, former Vice Prime Minister of Thailand and the incumbent President of Thai-Chinese Cultural and Friendship Council, Mr. Sen Genshitsu, Grand Master of Urasenke of Japan, Mr. Bundit Limshoon, Secretary-General of the Provisional Secretariat of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Ambassadors and representatives of Asian diplomatic missions to China and  Secretary-General Yang Xiuping attended the meeting.

Minister Luo warmly welcomed the guests for their participating in the Asia cultural exchange activities in Quanzhou. He said that since the beginning of the new century, the cooperation between China and otherAsian countries has continued to be strengthened and reached many important consensuses. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a strategic proposal on the “Belt and Road” initiative and the Maritime Silk Road that had closely connected the history and the future of the Asian countries. At the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia this year, President Xi proposed the strategic vision of working closely towards a Community of Common Destiny.

Minister Luo said that cultural exchanges among Asian countries in Quanzhou City as one of the starting points of the ancient maritime Silk Road participated by Asian countries along the route was of great significance against the backdrop of cooperation in Asia. In light of a new development, the Ministry of Culture of China put forward two propositions for the 3rd Asia Cultural Forum, aimed at achieving heart-to-heart connection through cultural exchanges and strengthening the internal cultural dialogue mechanism in Asia. To achieve these objectives, the Ministry put the following on the agenda for cultural exchanges with foreign countries. The first was intensive cultivation to raise the level in the expansion of scale, and to reach the depth in the extension of width. The second was overall connection to link cultural exchanges with political mutual trust and economic and trade relations, so that the three pillars for relations with foreign countries be balanced with enhanced coordination. The third was synchronized enhancement to make full use of all the levels, forms and channels in the working system, enabling the government, non-government and market forces to play a comprehensive role in cultural exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries. Minister Lou especially briefed about the proposals on the 13th Five-Year Plan endorsed by the 5th Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the five development concepts emphasizing on innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing.

Secretary-General Yang had in-depth exchanges of views on several occasions with H.E. Mr. Ding Wei, Vice Minister of Culture of China, with a focus on jointly carrying out cultural activities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 2016. They both agreed that joint efforts should be made to give optimum role of the government, non-government and market forces in ASEAN-China cultural exchanges and cooperation. The Ministry and ACC should coordinate with and assist Fujian Province and Quanzhou City among others to fully develop and utilize their geopolitical, economic and resource advantages in cultural exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries. Vice Minister Ding and Secretary-General Yang agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation between the Ministry and ACC, carefully design the cultural programmes for 2016 and start the preparation of the projects and activities in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations.