The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the government of the Philippines signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation Friday.

The MOU, with a view to promoting and strengthening cooperation in the fields of culture, the arts and education, was signed on the belief that such cooperation will contribute to the furtherance of mutual awareness, respect, understanding, harmony and friendship between their peoples.

To encourage performance and participation in culture and the arts, both governments have started to work on the cooperative programs.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) of the Hong Kong SAR will co-organize with the Consulate General of the Philippines in the Hong Kong SAR the staging of the "Concert in the Park Goes to the Piazza" at the Hong Kong Cultural Center Piazza in April this year.

The program, featuring Filipino performing artists residing in Hong Kong, will form part of the Easter Carnival event.

In the future, both governments will seek to step up collaboration in the field of culture by organizing large-scale arts and culture festivals in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)