Govts agree to promote cultural prosperity of East Asia

Cultural ministers from China, Japan and South Korea participating the 5th China- Japan-South Korea Ministerial Conference on Culture held in Gwangju, South Korea Saturday agreed to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation to promote the cultural prosperity of East Asia.

Cai Wu, China's Minister of Culture, Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and Yoo Jinryong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea attended the meeting in the South Korean city with more than 2,000 years of history.

At the meeting, Cai said that the east and west differ in history, culture and values, but the East Asia as a whole, especially China, Japan and South Korea, should take good advantage of their cultural and historical similarities, trying to exact a "shared East Asia value" and seeking a greater say around the world.

Shimomura suggested the three countries select a "Cultural Envoy of East Asia" to not only promote cultural exchanges among citizens of the three countries, but also introduce the splendid culture of East Asia to the global audience.

He said as Tokyo will hold the 2020 Summer Olympic games, it decides to base its development on culture and arts. Although Japan, China and South Korea experienced some political twists and turns, Japan always attaches great importance to and actively promotes the cultural exchanges and cooperation among the three countries.

Yoo Jinryong noted that promoting the cultural prosperity of East Asia is the three countries' opportunities and responsibilities. The Ministerial Conference on Culture should contribute to promote closer cooperation between the three countries and the prosperity and stability of the region.

The ministers drew the Gwangju Joint Document at the meeting to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation in the fields of culture industry, exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage preservation, the youth exchanges and to promote the program of " East Asia City of Culture."

During the meeting, the ministers designated Japan's port city Yokohama, China's ancient trading port Quanzhou and South Korea's Gwangju as the first series of "East Asia City of Culture."

The three cities will hold a variety of cultural and art exchange programs next year to enhance mutual understanding and feelings among the people of the three countries.

China, Japan and South Korea also agreed that the host country of the annual ministerial meeting will organize a joint cultural festival, including art performances, exhibitions, academic seminars and other relevant events starting from 2014.

The annual trilateral Ministerial Conference on Culture was firstly launched in 2007. The Gwangju meeting is the fifth round of this series, and the last round of this meeting was held in Shanghai, China in May 2012.