Liu Yuzhu (3rd R), director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China shakes hand with Serbian Minister of Culture and Media Vladan Vukosavljevic (4th R) at the opening of the first China-Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries Cultural Heritage Forum in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)
The first China-Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries Cultural Heritage Forum opened in Belgrade on Monday, aiming to promote and innovate cultural exchanges among participating countries.
The two-day forum was opened by Liu Yuzhu, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) of China, Serbian Minister of Culture and Media Vladan Vukosavljevic, and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang at the presence of representatives of cultural institutions and cultural ministers from CEE countries.
Liu, who represents China's leading institution in museum management and relics protection, said that "cultural exchange is the infrastructure of relations among countries", while cultural heritage exchange is a crucial part for the cultural exchange between China and CEE.
In his opening speech, Liu gave four suggestions on how to promote cultural heritage exchange and boost overall cultural exchange within China-CEE mechanism, namely, strategic planning, building dialogue platforms, expanding cooperation areas and enhancing international cooperation.
"With today's forum as a starting point, China would like to conduct more in-depth, extensive exchange cooperation with 16 CEE countries in more areas and levels, to innovate cooperation models and push forward pragmatic projects," he said.
Vukosavljevic said that the forum is an international platform for the continuation of cultural exchange within the 16+1 mechanism.
It will help strengthen communication channels between China and the CEE, establish expert networks as well as open opportunities to research into new potentials and mechanisms of cooperation, said the minister.
"Serbia wishes to be a credible partner to China in the joint development of the common Silk Road, where besides infrastructural investments and strengthening of trade connections, culture too will have an important place," Vukosavljevic said.
The 16+1 mechanism is a platform created in April 2012 by China and 16 CEE countries.
