Chinese-Peruvian Forum on Urban Culture Development Held in Lima

The Chinese-Peruvian Forum on Urban Culture Development jointly sponsored by the CPAFFC and the Peruvian-Chinese Cultural Institute was held in Lima, capital of Peru, on May 22. A 32-member delegation led by Jing Dunquan, CPAFFC Vice President, and composed of representatives from Yunnan, Guizhou and Gansu provinces and Chongqing, Xiamen, Shenyang, Kunming, Anyang and Wuhan cities attended the forum and had exchanges and discussions with mayors and cultural officials of 31 Peruvian cities on the cultural development of cities of the two countries and related subjects.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, CPAFFC Vice President Jing Dunquan said, Peru, once the site of ancient Inca Empire with splendid civilization, is the heart of native South American civilization, while China is an ancient oriental country with a long-standing uninterrupted history. Both China and Peru are developing countries and facing the opportunities and challenges of reviving civilization, realizing modernization and protecting traditional cultural heritage. Therefore, this forum has far-reaching historical significance. Gao Zhengyue, Chinese ambassador to Peru; Luis Chang, former Peruvian ambassador to China;Dr. Eduardo Yong Motta, former minister of health and president of the Peruvian-Chinese Cultural Institute, and Diego Uceda, member of the Lima Municipal Council and chairman of the Cultural Tourism Association, spoke on the occasion.

At the forum, participants of the two sides had warm discussions on how to protect traditional cultural heritage and preserve their cities’ cultural features which are disappearing gradually in the trend of economic globalization, how to build city’s multiculture, how to protect environment and integrate preservation of downtown historical sites into commercial tourism development in the process of industrialization and how to promote friendship-city ties between China and Peru. In his speech, Ambassador Gao Zhengyue said, to revive the memories and vigour of the cities with culture is an important link of urban construction in the two countries in the new era. The participants of the two sides reviewed the development of bilateral exchanges in recent years and held that the forum responding to the demands made by the heads of state of the two countries during their mutual visits was a trial for deepening traditional friendship, increasing consensus and expanding political, economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Representatives from Xiamen, Kunming and Anyang cities and Yunnan province briefed about the cultural features and international cultural exchanges of their own cities and province as well as their experience in cultural preservation. Officials of Salvador, Miraflores and Barranca, on behalf of the Peruvian side, briefed about features of their cities and expressed their wishes to sign agreements on cultural exchanges with Chinese cities.

During the break of the forum, Gao Zhengyue, Jing Dunquan and Wang Xiuyun attended the press conference arranged by the Peruvian side and answered questions on urban planning, protection of cultural relics, control of air pollution and traffic congestion and prospects of cooperation.

The Peruvian side also arranged for the Chinese delegation to visit two cities with distinctive features. Miraflores District of Lima is a representative of Peruvian modern cities with good urban planning and thriving business. Particularly the District has a rich urban cultural atmosphere: an exhibition of Peruvian handicrafts, a large-sized photo exhibition of French airplanes and recital by a German pianist. All such cultural facilities and activities are open to the public free of charge. Cusco is a representative city where Spanish colonial culture andSouth American Incan culture are perfectly integrated. The mayor of the city met with the delegation at the city hall and introduced the city’s unique local traits, folk customs and culture and ecological protection.

The forum happened to be held after Wenchuan earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province. At the opening ceremony all the Chinese and Peruvian participants observed silence for the victims of the earthquake. The Peruvian side thanked China for its economic aid when earthquakes struck Peru in August 2007. After the forum, when the delegation visited the Peruvian Congress, the congressmen stopped their discussions to welcome the Chinese delegation. At the Congress president’s suggestion all rose and stood in silent tribute for the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake, fully showing the friendly sentiments towards the Chinese people.

The forum is a platform set up for the cooperation between local governments of the two countries. The Chinese participants unanimously held that the forum has promoted cultural exchanges and substantial economic and cultural cooperation and enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the cities of the two countries.