China to launch First ASEM Culture and Arts Festival in September

During September 2-8, the First Asia-Europe Meeting Culture and Arts Festival jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the State Administration of Press and Publication will be staged in Beijing as a concrete result of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit. On August 13, the first press conference of the Festival was held at the Ministry of Culture in Beijing, attended by officials from the organizers, representatives from embassies of ASEM countries, and parters of domestic and foreign media.

With the theme“Sharing Diversity & Innovation,” the Festival will be presented on diverse cultural platforms such as theatre, public venues and television in such forms as music, dance, drama, film, exhibitions and publications. There will also be cultural forums to deepen the dialogue between Asian and European civilizations and share experiences on cultural development and cooperation. So far, more than 40 ASEM members have registered to attend the Festival.

Festival Logo: New Meanings of the Great Wall

The press conference revealed the logo of the First ASEM Culture and Arts Festival. Based on the logo of the ASEM, it symbolizes the fact that the Festival is an important platform for cultural exchange established within the framework of the ASEM.

The design adds to the ASEM logo of by drawing an arc under it that resembles the Great Wall of China, a Cultural Boat and the Earth at the same time. According to the organizers, the Great Wall is synonymous with the ancient Chinese civilization, indicating that the First ASEM Culture and Arts Festival will be held in China, and the Cultural Boat that resembles the contour of the Earth expresses the concept that the Festival is like a vessel of cultural exchange, a vehicle that carries half of the world’s civilizations, and a bridge that connects Asia and Europe as two continents of rich cultures.