Chinese culture’s "going out" has become an important national cultural strategy. However, according to Annual Report of China's Foreign Trade in Culture 2012, export of Chinese cultural products only accounts for 30 percent of the import of cultural products. How should Chinese culture go out? NPC deputies and CPPCC members gave their answers.
What is the core competitiveness of Chinese cultural products?
Chen Zhilin,a deputy to the National People's Congress, President of Sichuan Dramatists Association, talked about his experience: "Two years ago, I led my art troupe to visit Europe. We had more than 70 stages in four months. Chinese culture is welcomed and loved by local people not by chance. It is the uniqueness and connotation of Chinese culture that wins respect from foreigners. Performance that embodies our values and cultural system is of top priority.”
Prof. Liu Yuening, a member of the CPPCC, vice-chairman of Overseas Returned Scholars Association, and a noted Dulcimer player with Central Conservatory of Music, shared his ideas as to what cultural products China needs. First of all, they ought to show the spirit of the Chinese people and connotation of Chinese culture vividly. Secondly, the products need to conform to human values and universal aesthetic standards. It would be better if the products cater for foreign viewers’ habit and taste.
"We have been in the new era when the need for systematic research of our own culture is pressing,” said NPC deputy Ling Jiefang, "In addition, we would borrow ideas from the West, which helps promote our own culture."
Dilemma: Tradition and modernity
Many Chinese and foreign poll have shown that elements of traditional Chinese culture, for example Confucius, Kung Fu and porcelain are regarded as symbols of Chinese culture for quite a long time. How to let the world know more about Chinese culture in modern times has become a dilemma of the current Chinese culture’s going out.
Liu Yuening said: "The understanding and exchange of any form of culture is not done overnight. A long-term mechanism for disseminating Chinese culture is needed, at the same time innovation with a modern perspective is encouraged as well. Chinese culture is a treasure rather than a burden to Chinese people in modern times.”
The TV drama Legend of Zhenhuan’s landing on the U.S. sparked heated debate. "The exploration needs a period of time, during which all kinds of culture products can express freely,” said Ling Jiefang, "No cultural brand is established yet for Chinese culture’s going out. An overall and systematic research is urgently needed."
People-to-people exchange boosts
Innovation is mentioned by almost every NPC deputy and CPPCC member when talking about Chinese culture’s going out.
Liu Yuening has just finished her Chinese Spring Festival Concert held in Switzerland. She said, "The concert was a commercial operation that won positive good response. Tickets were sold to local people who are interested in Chinese music.“ She appeals to set up a fund aiming to support those musicians going out and people-to-people cultural exchanges.
Chen Zhilin believes that with the help of local directors, local scene designers and local service departments, traditional Chinese stories and traditional opera would be better understood by local people. The way of blending the West and East helps improve the effect of Chinese culture’s going out.
