Cai Wu

Minister of Culture, the People’s Republic of China

This is the sixth meeting of the culture ministers organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Being one of the most important mechanisms of multilateral cultural cooperation in the framework of the SCO, the meeting provides a communication platform on a regular basis for us working in the Ministry of Culture of each member state, as colleague as and as friends, to reflect on the past, to map out our future, to discuss and decide shoulder to shoulder the critical issues in cultural cooperation. Our meeting embodies the “Shanghai Spirit” of “mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversified civilizations and common development”.

On the agenda of this meeting, I’d like to mention the following points:

Ⅰ. Set the agenda of the meeting China approved the agenda of this meeting.

Ⅱ About major cultural events within the SCO framework since the last meeting

We considered the programs specified in the Plan of Multilateral Cultural Cooperation of the SCO Member States have generally been realized and completed rather well.

1. The 4th Art Festival of SCO member states held during the summit in Dushanbe last August was a huge success. The heads of states and delegations highly praised the amazing performances staged at the Festival by the artists from six member states. The success should be ascribed to the personnel of each state’s culture ministry for all the efforts they made. I’d also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation, in particular, to the Ministry of Culture and Information of the host country, Tajikistan, and the Ministry of Culture of all the other member states.

2. Last August, Beijing witnessed the successful holding of the Olympic Games of which the major cultural activities were in charge of the Ministry of Culture of the PRC. As a token of great concern for the multilateral cultural cooperation in the frame work of the SCO, on July 18 and 19, at Beijing’s National Grand Theatre, a special concert, An Evening of SCO Culture was staged. Well-known singers and musicians from SCO member states were a feast for the eyes of the audience in China and for the rest of the world which saw wonderful performances featuring each country’s artistic achievements and ethnic cultural characteristics. In fully embodying the spirit of “Culture-enriched Olympics”, the An Evening of SCO Culture was a great success and was one of the highlights among all the cultural events dedicated to the celebration of the Beijing Olympic Games. 3. Mutual understanding is the foundation for cooperation and friendship, so in order to enhance the friendly relationship and mutual understanding among the cultural departments of SCO member states, China carried out the program of SCO member states’ Cultural Officials Visiting China as earlier planned. Officials in the Ministry of Culture from each member state were, as a delegation, invited to visit China, share their valuable experience and discuss the direction of cooperation in the future. In visiting lots of cultural organizations, stadiums and other cultural facilities in Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, we deepened our friendship and mutual understanding. Thus, China proposed such activities of cultural exchange be held on a regular basis so as to promote mutual understanding, communication and cooperation among all the member states on a larger scale.

In every agreement reached at the SCO summit of the Council of Heads of State, there is an invariable content——to strengthen the practical cooperation among the member states and solidify the foundation of the organization. We feel rather delighted to witness the success achieved in the aforementioned cultural events which exhibited the concerted efforts of the ministry of culture of member states in the practical cooperation.