The three-day Asian Cultural Cooperation Conference, which
finished in Beijing today, has resulted in the planning of an
"Asian Cultural League" to foster regional dialogue.
"We should attach importance to protecting a diverse cultural
environment because it is a driving force for progress in human
society," said Li
Tieying, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress.
The Chinese Culture Promotion Society hosted the conference,
with representatives from non-governmental organizations from the
mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as India, Iran,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
The representatives unanimously supported a proposal to
establish a regional cultural cooperation organization and an
"Asian Cultural Fund" next year.
Aiming for better protection of multiculturalism in Asia, the
league would be set up on a voluntary basis with the support of
Asian governments and civil societies.
The fund, to be founded in Hong Kong with a starting capital of
US$50 million, mostly raised from civil society, would finance
multicultural activities.
"We hope to see a better united cultural community in Asia,"
said delegate Kalyan Charkravarty, Member Secretary of the Indira
Gandhi National Center for Arts.
(China Daily May 31, 2005)