National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua paved way in strengthening the ties of the Philippines and China through culture.
(From left) Special Assistant Maria Elena Algabre (DFA OUIR), Executive Director Aileen Rau (DFA ASPAC), Mary Anne Luis (head International Affairs Office-NCCA), Undersecretary Jesus Yabes (DFA Migrant Worker), Chairma Felipe De Leon, Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, Undersecretary Lingligay Lacanlale, Pan Feng (Cultural Counselor), Senior Special Assistant Millicent Paredes (DFA OUIR), and Director Nicole De Castro (DFA ASPAC)
On November 5 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Building in Pasay City, de Leon and Zhao signed the PH-China Executive Program, which aims to reinforce the Bilateral Cultural Agreement that was signed on July 8, 1979, in Beijing.
The renewed Executive Program stipulates specific activities that facilitates people-to-people exchanges between PH and China for the years 2015 to 2018. Both countries are encouraged to engage cultural workers from various fields—heritage conservation, archaeology, museum management, the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts and film—in cross-cultural collaborations, visits and cultural performances, as well as visits of each countries’ lead cultural officers.
Prior to the signing of the EP, various cultural activities and exchanges between the two countries were already spearheaded by government agencies here and in China.
In 2014, NCCA and DFA launched the travelling exhibit Pagkain, A Philippine Food exhibit visited the seven Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China.
Early this year, The Jilin Art Troupe, a multi-arts group hailing from north eastern China, graced the country with cultural performances in commemoration of the forty years of RP-China diplomatic relations and the celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival in the Philippines.
With the reinforcement of the Bilateral Cultural Agreements between PH and China, more of these cultural exchanges are expected in the next three years.
For inquiries, contact the International Affairs Office of NCCA at 527-2192 local 614 or 527-2206, or ncca_iao@yahoo.com.