Policy dialogue launched at first-ever EU-China Cultural Industries Forum

The European Commission and the Chinese authorities are launching a policy dialogue on culture and organising at the same time the first ever EU-China Cultural Industries Forum, which takes place in Shenzhen (China) on 15 May 2009. The aim of this event is to reflect on how to foster cooperation in the cultural industries, while sharing mutually beneficial Chinese and European experiences in this area.

The Forum will be opened by Mrs. Odile Quintin, Director General of DG Education and Culture at the European Commission, and Mr. CAI Wu, Chinese Minister of Culture. It will be a highlight of the 2009 edition of the well-known International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which takes place annually in Shenzhen (Guangdong Province). It will also be the first event to follow up on the newly-established policy dialogue on culture between the European Commission and the Chinese authorities following their Joint Declaration on reinforcing cooperation in the field of culture in 22 November 2007.

The Forum will bring together high-profile cultural industry experts and other culture professionals from both Europe and China. It will be an opportunity for thorough discussions and exchanges, in particular about experiences and points of view on policy measures favouring the development of the cultural industries. The debate will also tackle the importance of culture in socio-economic terms, in particular in the present difficult economic climate.

The question of creativity and its contribution to the economy will also be raised, in the context of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 and of new Chinese initiatives in this area, such as the National Programme for Creative Industries.

Further, this meeting will also examine the role of cultural industries for the promotion of cultural diversity, notably in the context of the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity, which entered into force in 2007, at national and international level.

To find out more:

The EU-China Cultural Industries site:

http://en.cnci.gov.cn/HtmlFiles/News/2009-4-8/8621.html

The EC Cultural Policy:

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-policy-development/doc1741_en.htm

Cultural diversity, the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions:
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=31038&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

ICIF:

http://en.cnci.gov.cn/HtmlFiles/News/2008-11-4/6953.html

ANNEX

Background on Cultural Relations with China

In the case of China the relations in the field of culture are defined by the following important and recent developments:

the 2003 EU-China Joint Declaration on Culture, which strengthen cooperation between the EU and People's Republic of China (PRC) in the fields of culture, audiovisual, education, training, youth and sport
the conclusions adopted at the EU-China Summit Meeting of 9 September 2006 in Helsinki, which called i.a. for the recognition of the significance of cultural diversity for sustainable development and supported increased cultural interaction between the Member States of the EU and China
the ratification by China of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions on 30 January 2007 , as well as its active involvement of this country in the governing bodies of the Convention
the Special Action under the Culture Programme for China and India (2007-2009) with over 1.8 million EUR of Community funding for projects involving Chinese partners and/or taking place in China
the Joint Declaration on Culture signed in Beijing on 22 October 2007, concerning the establishment of an administrative and sectoral policy dialogue in the field of culture between the European Commission (DG EAC) and the Chinese Ministry of Culture
finally the new article regarding cultural cooperation, which constitutes the basis for the relations in the field of culture between the European Union (EU) and China, to be included in the future Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA): art. 5.4–4 of the current draft stipulates that "the Parties agree to develop a dialogue on cultural policies, including creative and cultural industries"

Background on ICIF Fair

The China International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in Shenzhen (Guangdong Province) is hosted by Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, General Administration of Press and Publication of the People’s Republic of China, Guangdong Provincial People's Government and Shenzhen Municipal People's Government.

The ICIF makes efforts to establish an exchange platform for Chinese cultural products and services, promote the development of Chinese cultural industries, and foster the exports of Chinese cultural products aboard.

ICIF is the only cultural fair which has been approved by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI). In 2006, ICIF was mentioned in the Guidelines of China’s Eleventh Five-Year (2006-2010) Plan for Cultural Development.

The 4th ICIF will be held in Shenzhen from 15-18 May 2009. It will be focused on the development of the cultural industries and the presence of Chinese cultural products on international markets.