The nation's cultural well-being will top the Chinese government's agenda after years of very rapid economic growth. At a press conference in Beijing Thursday, officials in charge of the nation's cultural departments announced a complete reform of the cultural system before 2012. The sectors that will come under the knife include publishing, film making and cultural market management.

Sun Zhijun, head of the office in charge of the latest round of cultural reform, said that investment from private investors would be encouraged and supported.

The government is commendable for realizing that the nation's cultural well-being should not be left unattended as the nation's economy roars ahead.

Culture is the barometer of civilization. Spending on film and the arts gives good value. They have the power to move people, to stretch their imagination and see beyond their own existence for a brief moment. They exercise and nourish the mind; they feed the soul.

China's wonderful cultural landscape is rich in this soul food. More investment coming down the line will nurture this landscape.

Great civilizations are remembered for the cultural legacies they leave behind. In terms of overall government spending, the cultural sector is cheap to fund, yet it punches well above its weight. The effect to the nation's collective well-being is enormous.

Investing in culture fosters our sense of identity. China's soul needs feeding more than ever.