The highlight of the 10th Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum (ACCF), the Ministerial Panel, was held this morning (November 28). Cultural ministers and senior officials of 10 Asian countries came together in Hong Kong to attend the panel discussion session and exchanged ideas and shared views on the furtherance of cultural co-operation to promote the development of culture and the arts.

     The theme of today's panel discussion session is "Cultural Sustainability in a Dynamic World: Connecting Diversity". The Minister of Culture, Mr Luo Shugang, addressed today's panel discussion session while other participating cultural ministers and senior officials from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Republic of Korea, Laos, Japan, Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic also took turns to speak on the theme. Among them, Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic are Belt and Road countries joining ACCF for the first time. Senior cultural representatives from the Mainland provinces and Macau also attended the panel discussion session today.

     The ACCF is held today and tomorrow (November 29) with a wide range of activities organised. Held for the tenth time, the ACCF was first launched in 2003 by the Home Affairs Bureau with an aim to foster regional cultural co-operation, share good practices and promote culture and the arts.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in his opening speech at the panel discussion session, said that the year 2017 is an auspicious one – it marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In celebration of this momentous time, the Government has staged and supported a wide range of arts and cultural programmes, of which this ACCF is a highlight. Since its inception in 2003, the ACCF has become the premier platform in Asia that brings together cultural ministers to share insights and experience in furthering arts and cultural development.

     Mr Lau added that, the theme of this year's ACCF is "Cultural Sustainability in a Dynamic World: Connecting Diversity". Suffice it to say, the world is constantly evolving. We are living in a more globalised, urbanised and technologically advanced world. With shrinking physical and virtual distance between countries, cultural exchanges are made easier and faster. We see them as driving forces for positive changes.

     Apart from the luncheon for the delegations hosted by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam also hosted a gala dinner for the delegations and local cultural leaders. Mrs Lam, together with Mr Luo, also witnessed the signing of the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Enhancing the Arrangement for Closer Cultural Relations and the Agreement on Exchange and Closer Co-operation Arrangements in the Area of Cultural Heritage between the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage respectively.

     In the afternoon, the participating delegations took part in a plenary relating to youth and cultural development and visited the "Miles upon Miles: World Heritage along the Silk Road" exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History. The delegations will take part in another plenary relating to information technology and cultural development and visit Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden tomorrow.

Ends/Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:18

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