Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland a decade ago,
the influence of Chinese culture on the special administrative
region (SAR) has grown and the Hong Kong people's sense of
belonging to the motherland has become stronger, according to
Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng.
Sun said a series of "breakthroughs" had been made in cultural
exchanges, such as the exchange of cultural talents and artists and
cooperation on the development of cultural business.
The mainland has supported the SAR government in hosting a
series of regional and international cultural activities under the
principle of "One Country, Two Systems" while encouraging Hong
Kong-based cultural institutions and individuals to sponsor
national and international cultural programs, he said.
Over the past decade, mainland areas, excluding Guangdong,
Fujian and Hainan provinces, had over 4,000 cultural exchanges
involving almost 70,000 people. Guangdong alone had 3,455 programs
in cultural exchange, involving more than 36,000 people.
In 2005, the ministry signed an agreement with the SAR
government's civil affairs department to establish closer ties with
the territory in the cultural sector, Sun said.
The ministry, HK's civil affairs department and the municipal
government of Beijing have jointly sponsored student activities, he
said.
Annual plans for cultural cooperation and exchange will be
mapped out, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)