The Ministry of Culture held the 2017 work meeting in Beijing on March 4-5 to discuss promoting Chinese culture in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan province and overseas areas. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The Ministry of Culture held?the 2017 work?meeting in Beijing on March 4-5 to discuss promotion of Chinese culture in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan province and overseas areas.

First, a list of culture promotion achievements in 2016 was presented. The meeting aims to ensure?the decisions of the 18th CPC National Congress and the 18th CPC Central Committee's third, fourth, fifth and sixth plenary sessions are implemented, as well as the important guidelines in President Xi Jinping's talks.

Minister of Culture Luo Shugang attended and addressed the meeting. Deputy-Minister of Culture Yang Zhijin, Deputy-Ministers of Culture Xiang Zhaolun, Dong Wei, Ding Wei,?Director-General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritages Liu Yuzhu,Leader of the discipline inspection team of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in the Ministry of Culture Chi Yaoyun,?and Assistant Minister Yu Qun were present at the meeting.

Luo said that under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee and China's State Council, a series of goals in the field of cultural promotion, set for the first year of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) had been successfully accomplished last year.

Luo said that in order to increase China's soft power, it was important to spread its culture, boost cultural cooperation and exchanges linked to the launch of the Road and Belt Initiative, assist diplomatic work and contribute to the construction of a cultural power.?Achievements in 2016 was a implementation of the decisions of a series of plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the 18th CPC National Congress, and the important guidelines in President Xi Jinping's talks.

Luo said Chinese culture promotion accomplishments in 2016 also showed there was a close union around the CPC Central Committee under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, based on the strategies and polices set by the Party Central Committee and China's State Council.

The cultural minister encouraged the attendees to closely study President Xi's talks on cultural work and Chinese culture promotion abroad. He highlighted the special function of Chinese culture in diplomatic work. Looking ahead, he said work in 2017 would include enhancing institutional reform in culture promotion, developing new impetus, planning the culture promotion work in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries with an emphasis on cultural cohesion. Luo also emphasized the importance of the Party's?self-discipline in strengthening comprehensive and strict governance and implementing?tougher rules of governance.

Ding wrapped up and said last year's cultural work was marked by steady and comprehensive strategies, correct regional policies, efficient brand plans, practical reforms and new promotion channels. He stressed that the work in 2017 should progress in a stable manner, based on enhancing the inner management structure and?balancing innovation with practicality. With a steady state of mind, as well as?progress and teamwork, cultural promoters should find better ways to improve their work and?introduce Chinese culture overseas?to meet the coming of the 19th CPC National Congress.

87 leaders from the cultural departments in 80 countries, 27 directors of Chinese Cultural Centers (including counselors who?serve as directors), 105 representatives from the Mission of China to the European Union, the Mission of China to the African Union and the Japan-China Friendship Center, and 80 representatives from 31 provinces and regions attended the meeting.

After the meeting concluded on Sunday, training?on the work of the Chinese Cultural Centers?in Beijing and will run until March 9.