Enhanced cultural exchanges and cooperation between Asian
countries and regions will help regional peace and development and
better protect cultural heritage, top officials said on Friday.
Minister of Culture Sun
Jiazheng made the remarks at the Cultural Asia Ministerial
Forum, which kicked off in Foshan in south China's Guangdong
Province.
The theme of the three-day forum is how to better protect and
develop regional arts and culture and strengthen cultural
cooperation between Asian countries and regions.
Meanwhile, the Seventh Asia Arts Festival also opened on Friday
in conjunction with the forum. It will include a series of
traditional arts performances.
Since 1998 when it was first held in Beijing, the annual festival
has attracted more than 110 arts troupes from more than 20
countries and regions in Asia and has become one of the most
important events for art exchanges in the region.
Sri Hsatanto, vice minister of culture and education of
Indonesia, said on Friday that Asian countries and regions should
combine their technological strength to make a comprehensive
database for cultural heritage protection.
(China Daily November 12, 2005)
