The 2024 Beijing Culture Forum kicked off in Beijing on Thursday.
The forum has "Inheritance, Creativity, and Mutual Learning" as its permanent theme, with this year's sub-theme being "Deepening Cultural Exchange to Achieve Common Progress".
The three-day event, which included a main forum, six sub-forums, and 32 seminars and cultural activities, attracted more than 800 domestic and foreign representatives from over 70 countries and regions to exchange views on the development of the cultural sector.
A report on China's cultural exchanges with the world in 2023 was released at Thursday's opening ceremony, showing that in the face of challenges and opportunities, cultural exchanges between China and other countries showed a rapid recovery and a positive trajectory last year.
The opening ceremony also witnessed the release of a list of the top cultural 10 events in 2023 in Beijing, including the return of seven lost stone columns to the old Summer Palace, and the opening of the Chinese archaeology museum.
Speakers at the forum stressed the need to strengthen cultural inheritance and cherish historical and cultural traditions.
They said that countries should promote the prosperity of cultural activities by encouraging artists and inspiring people to create cultural content online.
Speakers also called for efforts to deepen mutual cultural learning and implement the Global Civilization Initiative. A cultural industry investors' conference will be held for the first time during this year's forum.
2024 Beijing Culture Forum kicks off
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
