On 8 November 2015, the Breathtaking Blue – Special Exhibition on Culture of Maritime Silk Road of the 14th Asia Arts Festival was held in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered a speech. H.E. Mr. Ding Wei, Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Culture, Mme. Li Hong, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, Mr. Zheng Xincong, Secretary of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee, H.E. Mrs. Erlinda F. Basilio, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Mohammad S. Al Thuwaikh, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait and other representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in China attended the opening ceremony. Mr. Ding Wei, Mme. Li Hong, Mme. Yang Xiuping and Mr. Zheng Xincong raised the flags to officially open the Exhibition.
Vice Governor Li Hong said Maritime Silk Road was a road of peace, friendship, cooperation and prosperity that bridged economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. As the starting point and cradle of the Maritime Silk Road, Fujian had written a splendid chapter in the history of the Maritime Silk Road and contributed immensely to its development. Against the backdrop of the Central Government of China to implement the Belt and Road initiative, Fujian had been the focus of development under the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative by reaping the benefits from its unique advantages in geographical location, history and its role as the window to the Asia-Pacific. She pointed out that on the occasion of this Festival, Fujian was holding two themed exhibitions on Maritime Silk Road to showcase the finest culture of countries along the Road, strengthening their efforts to enhance connectivity, trade cooperation and cultural exchanges so as to promote and serve Fujian’s development and national strategy as well.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping said it was a special significance for Quanzhou, one of the starting points of ancient Maritime Silk Road, to hold this Special Exhibition on Culture of Maritime Silk Road. Ancient Maritime Silk Road was a route for commercial transactions, cultural exchanges and friendly cooperation. It had connected the peoples from different countries of Asia, Africa and Europe, with many moving stories of standing together through storm and difficulties in the past. Now in the new historical period, with the aim at promoting the spirit of Silk Road of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 an important initiative to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road which received positive responses from countries along the Road including ASEAN. Secretary-General Yang pointed out that promoting a common aspiration of the peoples was vital for the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. We should further explore the cultural aspects of the ancient Silk Road and intensively promote people-to-people cultural exchanges, so as to enhance the understanding and friendship between the peoples of different countries along the road.
Secretary-General Yang also emphasized that not long ago, the 5th Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee adopted the proposals for the 13th Five-Year Plan of China, which made it clear that China would promote the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization, to speed up the reform and development of culture and strengthen the construction of socialist spiritual civilization as well as the construction of socialist culture power. Against the backdrop of the realization of ASEAN Community at the end of 2015, and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 2016, ASEAN and China should take this opportunity to chart future cooperation and deepen their strategic partnership. ACC would actively implement the substantial consensuses reached by state leaders of both sides and contribute to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
After the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Ding Wei, Mme. Li Hong, Mme. Yang Xiuping, and other domestic and foreign guests toured the exhibition. During the event, Secretary-General Yang received joint interviews by local media including Strait Station and South-East TV.
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