Cultural ministers of China and France have recently issued a joint statement about a new drive to preserve and promote cultural diversity, sources with the organizing committee of the China-France Year under the Chinese Ministry of Culture said yesterday.

The joint statement, inked by ministers of culture from both nations, recognizes the graatifying progress that has been made since the "Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity" was adopted unanimously by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Secientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO on November 2, 2001.

The joint statement expresses concerted support for the international communities' accelerated efforts towards the adoption of a "Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions."

"Cultural diversity is essential to mankind as biodiversity to wild life. All the members of the international community shall shoulder the responsibility of maintaining cultural diversity in the world," says the joint statement.

The statement affirms the principle of including clauses that address the special conditions for the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity in developing countries in the convention, and clauses that are conducive to effective preservation and promotion of cultural diversity in developing countries.

The framework and details were first discussed by the ministers of culture during the Seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of the International Network on Cultural Policy,- which concluded in mid-October last year.

(China Daily January 26, 2005)