Participants of the 7th Asia-Europe Culture Ministers’ Meeting pose for a photo [Photo/chinaculture.org]

From June 22 to 24, the 7th Asia-Europe Culture Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM CMM7) was held in Gwangju, Korea, in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Ding Wei, China’s deputy minister of culture, led the Chinese delegation and attended the meeting, under the invitation of Kim Jongdeok, minister of culture, sports and tourism of Korea.

Delegations from 43 member countries of the Asia-Europe meeting and representatives from the Asia-Europe Foundation attended the meeting. The participants held a dialogue around the theme "Culture and the Creative Economy" and exchanged ideas on such issues as "the future of high technology and creative industry", "traditional cultural heritages and creative economy" and "promoting international collaboration and reviving creative industry". The meeting also discussed and passed the "Announcement of the Chairman".

Ding Wei delivered a speech at the meeting, introducing how the Chinese culture industry has boomed in the past decade, as well as putting forward some suggestions based on the theme.

"First, culture industry should take advantage of high technology like IT, ICT and son on to achieve the co-development of culture and technology," he said.

"Second, creative economy should explore the spirit of traditional cultural heritages and serve as the carrier of protecting and developing traditional culture of all countries."

"Third, international communication and cooperation of the culture industry should be enhanced for mutual learning and common development."