Cai Wu (second from left), China's Minister of Culture, visited the Chinese Garden at Huntington Library together with Che Zhaohe (second from right), cultural consul of Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, on Tuesday in San Marino, California. He was reading an article about T. June Li, curator of Chinese Garden, in the June 27 China Daily that he received from the library. He told Suzy Moser (right), assistant vice-president for advancement of Huntington Library, that he recognized the contribution the Huntington Library has made to bridge cultures between the US and China. [Photo / Provided to China Daily]
At a press conference with Chinese and Mexican journalists on June 30 in Mexico City, Mexico, Minister Cai Wu of the Ministry of Culture said that the 21st century is a great period for China and Latin America to expand exchanges in politics, economics and culture.
He pointed out that Latin America, an ancient civilization with a long history, is one of the birthplaces of human civilization and stands out in the world because of its striking cultural diversity. He believed that one feature of Latin American culture is that both its literary works and other historical relics embody deep philosophical thinking and many philosophies that are worth studying.
He emphasized China is an advocate in preserving cultural diversity in the world and a country that initiated the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Cultural exchanges between China and Latin America play a significant role in promoting the development of diversity in human civilization.
He pointed out that cultural exchanges between China and Latin America were on a smaller scale and confronted obstacles, compared with the exchanges between China and its neighboring countries and counties on the Eurasian continent and other regions.
Cai Wu said, “We are thinking and planning to strengthen cultural exchange between China and Latin America so as to encourage the coming out of Chinese culture.”
He specified that first, Chinese culture centers and Confucius Institutes should be established in Latin America; second, a system of humanity exchange between China and major countries in Latin America should be set up; third, forums that aim at strengthening cultural exchanges should be held; and fourth, each side should participate in international cultural and art activities held by the other.
Cai Wu said that the suggestion by Mexico to hold China Market Focus on the Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico in the following one to two years is a brilliant idea.
He said that China and Mexico, two ancient civilizations in the world, had begun cultural exchanges since the 16th century. Under the new circumstance, China and Mexico should strengthen cultural exchanges and increase mutual understanding, friendship and recognition between people in the two nations so as to promote cooperation and lay a solid foundation in developing a strategic partnership relation.
He pointed out that as China and Mexico were developing a strategic partnership relation, the prospect of cooperation on cultural exchanges is bright. As long as the two nations make their efforts, they will achieve great results in cultural exchanges and serve as a strong cornerstone for the future development of China, Mexico and even Latin America.
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