The 2023 “Focus on Zhejiang” Annual Summit of International Cultural Exchange Activities, co-hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Publicity Department and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, was held at the China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou on Dec 12.
Government officials, representatives from provincial-level international cultural exchange bases and “Picturesque Zhejiang” goodwill ambassadors participated in the event.
Ten cultural institutions are listed as the fourth batch of international cultural exchange base, namely China National Tea Museum, China Port Museum, Wenzhou Jiangxin Island (Wenzhou Modern Port Opening History Museum), Jiaxing Haiyan, Nanbei Lake, Jinjiu Avoidance Difficulties, Taizhou Xianju Biodiversity Museum, Jinhua Dongyang Joyful Chinese Aesthetics Communication Center, Huzhou Qingquan Wenwu School, Lishui Photography Museum, Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages, and Tourism College of Zhejiang. As of this year, the province boasts a total of 42 bases of international cultural exchange.
Luo Lili, deputy director of the Information Office of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, said that Zhejiang not only serves as important window for the world to understand China but also acts as a mirror reflecting China’s perspective on the world. “We welcome international friends to come to Zhejiang to explore the beauty of the province and foster a deeper understanding of Zhejiang. Also, Zhejiang hope people from Zhejiang, along with its rich cultural heritage, can actively engage with the global community, deepen friendships, build consensus and collaboratively work towards a mutually beneficial future,” she said.
Diao Yuquan, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, stated that Zhejiang is not only a province rich in culture but also a vibrant land of vitality. “In the new era, it is increasingly important to pioneer and innovate in foreign cultural exchanges. Zhejiang extends its embrace to the world through its poetic landscapes, rich cultural heritages and flourishing economic and technological developments.”
Zhejiang has so far gained impressive achievement on the global stage. The Chronicles of Chinese Painting through the Ages Song Dynasty (960-1279) Painting Exhibition has toured in six countries and regions abroad. The “Picturesque Zhejiang” cultural and tourism promotion and exchange activities have made their way to Lisbon, Oslo, Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta, as well as Hong Kong and Macau, making the brand more renowed worldwide.
Representatives from several international cultural exchange bases shared their unique experiences for promoting the brand “Picturesque and Dynamic Zhejiang”.
China National Silk Museum hosted the Silk Robes for Princes – Chinese Silk Art Exhibition, showcasing the diverse development of Chinese silk art. Meanwhile, the Jimingshan community in Jiangdong subdistrict of Yiwu city demonstrated the harmonious life of an international community to the world.
Lin Wei, deputy dean and associate professo of the Institute of Leisure Studies and Philosophical Research in Arts of Zhejiang University, shared two key concepts—mutual sharing between hosts and guests and compatibility of the new and the old—during the event.
“The purpose of creating international cultural exchanges is to enable the world to better understand China and, at the same time, allow China to have a better understanding of the world. Therefore, coordinating the relationship between the two is crucial. It is essential to showcase the characteristics and hospitality of Zhejiang while seamlessly integrating local life,” he said.
Tomas, a Dutch vlogger in China, shared his “most wonderful cycling journey in lifetime”. In September, he spent two weeks cycling 1,600 km to visit over 50 competitions venues of the Hangzhou Asian Games in Zhejiang. Along the way, Tomas shared local delicacies and beautiful sceneries of Zhejiang with his foreign friends.
“I feel that the concept of ‘common prosperity’ that everyone talks about has already been realized in Zhejiang,” he said.
During the event, the official app of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Inspiring Zhejiang, has officially launched in its English version. In the future, it will feature four main themes, namely Extraordinary to Experience, Panorama to Explore, Wonder to See, and Touching to Share. The platform aims to create an accessible Zhejiang cultural and tourism resource hub for international friends of Zhejiang.
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