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Forum sheds light on China’s cultural, creative industry
By Hu Yang (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-27 13:36
The International Forum on the Development of China's Cultural and Creative Industry was held yesterday in Beijing, with officials and veterans of such industries from all over the world sharing ideas.
The forum is an important part of the 4th China Beijing International Cultural & Creative Industry Expo. The Expo, which lasts from Nov 25 to 29, aims to promote international exchange and cooperation in cultural and creative industries.
On Sept 26, China issued the National Plan to Develop the Cultural Industry, signaling that the country is going to put more effort in exploring this new sector.
Grzegorz W. Kolodko, former first deputy prime minister and finance minister of Poland, told chinadaily.com.cn in an interview that he believed cultural and creative industry will play a bigger role in the economy as the demand for it is growing.
Kolodko, the first speaker taking the stage at yesterday's forum, is also a distinguished economist. He says the government should invest in human and social capital by drafting educational and cultural policy, supporting research and development, then instituting regulations. In other words, it must set up the rules of the game in creative enterprises.
He also said it might be necessary for the government to offer subsidies to some parts of the culture sector, such as education and art.
Brian Leonard, who had served as senior civil servant at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in Britain, said that a major contributor to the success of Britain's cultural and creative industry is the diverse cultures in London and the young generation's dynamic innovation. The government, instead of leading the trend, adapted to the change and issued policies to support it.
Kolodko, comparing China to Japan in the 50's and 60's, said China has to go through the "imitation" stage before entering the "innovation" and "invention" stages.
He also emphasized the importance of disseminating culture in helping a country's creative and cultural industry to sweep the world. In his opinion, China needs to develop Chinese cultural institutes in most big cities around the world.
