- Prosperity over Poverty, Culture and Tourism for New Vitality of Silk Road
GANSU, China – A senior official of the Gansu chapter of Communist Party of China, Mr. Lin Duo has said that China would share the fruits of cultural exchanges and cooperation with Belt and Road Partners.
The commitment was made at the inauguration ceremony of Fourth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo (SRDICE) and the Ninth Dunhuang Tour-Silk Road International Tourism Festival held here in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Gansu Province.
The theme of expo and festival is “Prosperity over poverty: Culture and Tourism for New Vitality of Silk Road”. The SRDICE was hosted by Gansu provincial government, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the China Council for the promotion of international trade.
The festival is being held in Ganan, Gansu, China for one month from July 30 to September 5, 2019. The Expo and Festival became an important platform for implementing the initiative, a bridge and link to promote cultural exchanges, mutual learning, opening up and cooperation among countries along the Silk Road.
The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee Mr. Lin Duo, the minister of cultural and tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Luo Shugang, Vice Minister of National Radio and Television Administration, Mr. Zhang Hongsen, and Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia Mr. Tserenbat Namsral.
The tourism authorities of countries along the Belt and Road and heads of international organizations such as UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization, the World Tourism Alliance, the World Bank and the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
In the opening ceremony, Mr. Lin Duo said we should proceed from the supply side of the culture and tourism and encourage integration and reshaping of the new business types, new models and new technologies soon as to improve the quality and efficiency of all the elements in a comprehensive manner.
“We need to focus on openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning,” Mr Duo said, adding, “We should uphold the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, stand up for the multilateralism system and sincerely share the fruits of exchanges and cooperation with Belt and Road partners.”
He mentioned that the belt and road countries have different political systems, different religious beliefs, and different national cultures with an open and inclusive mind to deepen mutual understanding, trust, to tolerance create a harmonious and friendly cultural atmosphere for human progress and provide a colorful choice for the development of the different civilizations in the whole world.
Global Coordinator for Culture Heritage and Sustainable Tourism, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice of the World Bank, Mr. Ahmed Elweida has said Gansu province is an important place of origin of Chinese civilization and has many attractions. Its service industry has been growing significantly and has become a main pillar for the local economy in recent years.
“The tourism sector contributes increasingly to GDP and job creation, employing more people at the age of 18 and 29, the most productive and vocal segment of the population”.
He said Gansu’s creative industries are defined are those which produce and distribute goods, services and activities with intangible cultural heritage and they convey ideas, symbols, and ways of life irrespective of their commercial value.
“Gansu has several of creative industries dome of which are so unique such as traditional arts and crafts, including Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, Jade carving, pottery, sculpture, wood carving, for performance, costume, gastronomy, and the list goes on. “It just shows the richness of Gansu in terms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage as well as natural heritage,” he mentioned.
“I think the example of holding this festival here in Gannan and in one of the poorest areas is excellent example for many countries along the Silk Road of the targeted interventions can be made in last mile areas” he concluded his speech.
Meanwhile, in the opening ceremony of the festival more than 6000 artists were performed. The festival started with long march of more than 700 horse riders. The festival attracts tourist all over the world. The local traditional dance – Guozhuang dance, Duodi dance, Balang drum and other performances are well-presented Tibetan cultures.
