Director Chen Attended the First “China---Canada Cultural Dialogue”

The director of Hunan Provincial Museum, Mr. Chen Jian-ming attended the first “China---Canada Cultural Dialogue” held in Beijing on the invitation of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture on November 12th, 2009. The activity, which was jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture, aimed to improve the understanding between two countries and to strengthen their friendly relations in the background of globalization.

160 representatives from China and Canada attended the meeting, among whom were Canadian senator Lowell Murray, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps, Ms. Wu Yong-guang, chairwoman of the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture, Mr. Mark Roswell, cultural specialist in Canadian Cultural Heritage Department, Mr. Peng Pei-yun, former vice chairman of NPC Standing Committee, Ms. Li Xiao-lin, deputy director of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. An Lai-shun, secretary general of Chinese Society of Museums, and Mr. Wu Guan-zhong, a famous Chinese artist.

On such themes as “transformation”, “diversity”, “partnership”, “communication” and “cultural diplomacy”, representatives made thorough and heated discussions in one and a half days. During the meeting, Mr. Chen delivered a speech entitled Diversity——The Role of Museum in Cultural Communication, which included general information about Hunan Provincial Museum, theory and practice of Museology, and the past and future of the cultural dialogue between China and Canada.  

 China and Canada established diplomatic relationships 39 years ago, and there has been steady development in the friendly relationship between two countries ever since. In 2005, Mr. Chen went to Canada to take part in a series of activities concerning cultural communication on the invitation of Canadian Embassy. Then in 2006, Canadian Delegation on the Promotion of Understanding through Culture visited Hunan Provincial Museum under the organization of Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture. In 2007, Hunan Provincial Museum became the first cooperation unit of the Gordon Chow CANADA-CHINA Arts & Culture Professional Enrichment Program launched by the foundation. So, as another important activity in the cultural communication, this “China---Canada Cultural Dialogue” would give an impressive promotion to the communication between Hunan Provincial Museum and the museums in Canada.