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Iran-China Cultural Alliance |
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Both sides expressed their interest in holding their
national film weeks in one another’s country. |
Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic
Guidance Ahmad Masjedjamei arrived in Beijing on 27 November 2003 at the head
of a cultural delegation on an official visit to China. Upon arrival at the
Beijing airport, the Iranian minister and his accompanying delegation were
warmly welcomed by the Chinese cultural officials.
During his one-week stay Masjedjamei met
with several Chinese ministers and cultural personalities. The Iranian
minister also took part in the opening ceremony of Iran’s Cultural Week in
China; as well as meting with a group of Persian language lecturers and
Iranologists. The Cultural Week event included several art and handicrafts
exhibitions in various Chinese cities.
Director General of the Islamic Culture
and Communication Organization Ali-Reza Ismaili said Iran’s Cultural Week was
held in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Fuzhou and Wuhan. Artworks by 12
Iranian contemporary female artists and painters were also featured in a
10-day exhibition in the Chinese capital, Beijing from 28 November to 7
December 2003.
An Iranian musical group, ‘Shams’
performed in Fuzhou, the capital of the southern Chinese province of Fujian.
Another one-week exhibition on Iranian artworks opened in the Chinese port
city of Shanghai on 29 November 2003.
New Definition of Asian Identity:
Minister of Culture and Islamic
Guidance Ahmad Masjedjamei in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Sun
Jiazheng called for a joint definition of Asian identity for boosting cultural
exchanges; saying that: "We should offer a joint definition of our Asian
identity in order to bolster our cultural exchanges." "Thanks to their past
historical and cultural common grounds, Iran and China have proper grounds for
cooperation," the minister said, adding: "Iran is of the view that such
countries as Iran and China should cooperate to boost the growth of cultural
diversity."
He proposed the formation of an "Asian
Nations Alliance" and intimated Iran’s readiness for drafting the Asian
document of cultural diversity. The Iranian minister urged expansion of
cultural and research cooperation between the two countries. He said:
"Bilateral cooperation between the two nations should go beyond this stage and
both sides should focus on putting the agreements into action." He said
exchange of cultural delegates between Iran and China will bring the two
countries closer together.
For his part, Sun Jianzheng highlighted
President Mohammad Khatami’s initiative of "dialogue among civilizations" and
said: "Such a notion sets the stage for global peace and China conditions
dialogue of cultures on mutual respects."
Document on Cultural Cooperation Signed:
Iranian and Chinese
ministers of culture signed a memorandum of understanding for cultural
cooperation. Masjedjamei and Jianzheng stressed the need for persistence of
cultural cooperation between the two Asian nations. "In view of cultural
cooperation, Iran and China should pave the way for holding exhibitions in
both countries," the MoU says.
The agreement calls for encouraging the
Iranian and Chinese researchers to exchange cultural and artistic views.
Bolstering dialogue of Iranian and Chinese civilizations as well as
strengthening ties and cooperation in the regional and international summits
is also among other grounds mentioned in the memorandum of understanding.
Exchange of Films, TV Programs:
Masjedjamei met with the Chairman
of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), Xu
Guangchun, on issues of mutual interest. In the meeting, Masjedjamei,
referring to the impressive cultures of the two Asian countries, said that
cooperation between Iran and China in various cultural fields will contribute
to the optimum introduction of their nations to one another.
"Given the similarity of their cultures,
Iran and China are in position to have fruitful exchange of films and
television programs. Iranian films have a special status in the international
film festivals due to their rich concepts mostly concerned with humanistic
subjects," he noted.
The minister called for the exchange of
visits between the Iranian and Chinese cultural and artistic groups including
cinematographers as well as journalists, those occupied with the press and men
of pen.
For his part, Guangchun said that given
the broadcast of TV programs plays a decisive role in development of cultures,
China gives special significance to production of TV programs. "China and Iran
can break the monopoly of the Western media and establish a new international
media system, through close cooperation on exchange of TV programs including
the news broadcasts, art programs, films and serials," he added.
Both sides expressed their interest in
holding their national film weeks in one another’s country and Masjedjamei
reiterated that the decisive role of the presence of Chinese cinematographers
in the Iranian film festivals.
Visit to Northwest China:
Iran’s minister of Culture and
Islamic Guidance arrived in Xian, the capital city of Shanxi Province, in
northwest of China on 29 November 2003. The Iranian minister and his
accompanying delegation were welcomed upon their arrival by cultural and local
officials of the province. The Iranian delegation met with the local officials
and visited historical and cultural monuments and sites in the region.
The Iranian minister and his delegation
also visited the International Museum of Horse, the ancient wall, the History
Museum (where archaic Iranian artifacts and coins are on display) and the City
Library. Among other programs of the Iranian delegation was to visit the grand
and historical mosque of the city and meeting the Imam of the mosque and
Muslims of the city.
Sister Cities:
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
held talks with Deputy Head of the Chinese Shanxi province Chen Sai-Cheong in
the provincial capital city of Xian on matters of bilateral interest. In the
meeting, Masjedjamei referred to the numerous cultural and civilizational
commonalties of Iran and China and said that the mutual exchange between them
in the ancient era marked a type of dialogue between the two civilizations.
"Iran and China have also been enjoying
bilateral relations in the field of mythology, which is quite evident by the
Iranian tools and objects on display at Chinese museums. The culture of the
two countries has been deeply impressed by each other and China is known to
Iranians as a symbol of beauty," he added.
Turning to the ancient city of Isfahan
as one representing the ancient civilization, he noted that calling Isfahan
and Xian as sister cities, given their historical background, is quite
suitable to the mutual old ties.
For his part, Sai-Cheong expressed
satisfaction over the presence of the Iranian minister and the accompanying
cultural delegation in the province and underlined the decisive role of the
city and province in the mutual ties between the two states.
"Xian and Shanxi were China’s trade and
cultural center up to the 10th century and the city had been the capital city
of the country for 1,100 years during the reign of 13 Chinese emperors," he
added.
Pointing to the provincial 5,000-year
historical background, he said that Xian located at the one end of the
historical Silk Road is known as an international cultural city. Masjedjamei
declared Iran’s readiness to hold its cultural week in the province,
particularly in its capital, Xian and also welcomed celebration of China’s
Cultural Week in the city of Isfahan.
Iran’s Cultural Week A Welcome Event:
An official in charge of
Iran’s Cultural Week ceremonies in Beijing said that the event has been warmly
hailed by the Chinese enthusiasts of Iranian art. The turnout of the Chinese
art-lovers at Beijing’s Yan Huang art center had been remarkable.
"The art center was thronged by art
masters and trainees as well as artists highly attracted to Iranian culture
and traditions during the past week. Several Chinese students took note on the
artworks of Iranian artists on display and exchanged views with some of the
artists attending the exhibition," he added. |
