Malacca station paves way for more to come

A group marriage ceremony held in Fuzhou, Fujian province. The province's overseas cultural stations are set to promote traditional culture as well as folk customs among foreigners. [Photo by You Qinghui/China Daily]

Fujian province, in cooperation with Hatten Group, a leading Malaysian property developer, launched an overseas cultural station in Malacca, Malaysia, on Aug 23 in a bid to help to spread the word about traditional Chinese culture in foreign countries.

The move is in response to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, to increase international exchanges.

The station will initiate a series of cultural activities and promote Fujian's brand of local culture.

A Fujian cultural exhibition, a major activity held during the station's inauguration ceremony, explained the essence of Fujian culture in a nutshell.

Colorful boards, posters and leaflets exhibited at the scene attracted a number of visitors.

The exhibition boards showcased the culture techniques, traditional local operas and the folk people and their livelihoods through 40 selected images.

A group of intangible local cultural techniques－including lacquer line carving, wood carving, porcelain and silver craft making－attracted throngs of visitors.

A variety of live performances involving hand puppets and marionettes, as well as paper-cutting and tea ceremonies, were also eye-catching events.

Besides the performance, the inauguration ceremony also served as a classroom, with two sessions of tea ceremony and paper-carving training tailored to visitors who had never practiced them before.

Dancers from Fujian staged a vibrant performance. They brought their intangible dancing art form, cultivated in their hometown, to a foreign audience.

The performers lived out the diverse culture of Fujian province.

Lin Shouqin, deputy director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture, said at the ceremony that based on the Belt and Road Initiative, the project was conducive to economic and cultural cooperation among the countries and regions involved in the initiative.

The station will focus on cultural exchanges, trade and communications to serve audiences in Malaysia, carrying out more activities in the future.

In the wake of the new Malaysian cultural station, Fujian province has created a schedule to expand its initiatives in other countries.

Local media reported that in the next few years, Fujian plans to establish cultural stations in another five to eight countries, to promote the province's cultural brand.

In 2017, Fujian will initiate a series of cultural activities with BRICS countries to enhance cultural ties, according to the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture.

From Jan 25 to May 30, the Fujian Museum, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the National Museum of New Delhi in India, organized a Buddhism-themed sculpture exhibition to showcase the glories of the ancient Buddhist culture.

From Feb 22 to March 5, the Fujian Museum organized a picture exhibition of the Maritime Silk Road, held in South American countries including Brazil.

On June 12, Romero Britto, a Brazilian artist, held a personal exhibition in Fuzhou. In mid-August, a Russian oil painting exhibition was held in Fujian Art Gallery.