Participants at the on-going Symposium on China-Africa Cultural Exchanges in the New Century said that as the traditional friendship is enhanced, cultural cooperation and exchanges between the two sides have great potential.
China's Ministry of Culture organized the two-day symposium, summarizing experiences of cultural exchanges between China and African countries, exploring new ways to further exchanges under new circumstances, and push forward the overall relationship between China and African countries.
Bekele Abebaw, director of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Ethiopia's Ministry of Information and Culture, said, culture is a significant element in the life of every nation. It has a particular importance as a means of self-expression and social identity.
In order to study and preserve African culture, China-Africa cultural exchanges shall play an important role in the new millennium, Abebaw said.
Dr. H. N. Diaz, director for National Heritage and Cultural Programs of Namibia's Ministry of Basic Education, Sports and Culture, said, exhibitions of excellent paintings, and visits by song and dance ensembles will help the people of the two sides to know each other better.
"Future cultural relationships and exchanges should be geared to serve a further purpose by reminding the future generations in both Africa and China about the past century of brutal colonial oppression and exploitation, to enable them to understand the events that helped shape the contemporary cultural, political and social order in Africa as well in China," Diaz said.
Non-governmental exchanges will help establish direct links between cultural groups of the two sides that have common interests. However, he added, ethnic characteristics in various cultures must be preserved during the process of developing friendly relationship.
Mehdi Ayari, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation of Tunisia's Ministry of Culture, suggested that many more translations of literary books from Africa and China should be made, mutual investment into the film industry, cultural exhibitions and visits by scholars, artists and authors.
The symposium is a follow-up activity to the China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial Meeting Beijing 2000, which ended on October 12.
Until now, China has signed bilateral cultural agreements with 45 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.
(People’s Daily 10/25/2000)
