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A brief account of the cultural exchanges between China and the DPRK
2007-03-28 00:00

The cultural exchanges between China and the DPRK are very frequent. Since the signing of the cultural agreement between two countries on February 21, 1959, the two countries regularly signed "Implemental Plan for the Cultural Exchanges between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". In accordance with the plan, the two countries annually sent as many as dozens of delegations or art groups of different kinds to each other's side.

1. Visits by high-level officials between cultural departments.

High-level officials of cultural departments of the two countries exchange visits frequently, maintaining good relations of cooperation between the two countries. This has given impetus to the strengthening and development of the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Every year, the Chinese Ministry of Culture sends a government cultural delegation to attend "Spring of the April" Friendship Art Festival held in DPRK. The DPRK Commission for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries and the Cultural Ministry also send cultural workers delegations or government cultural delegations to visit China every year.

In April 2006, Ding Wei, Assistant Minister of Culture of China, led a five-person Chinese government cultural delegation to visit the DPRK. Vice-President Yang Hyung Sup met the delegation in the People's Cultural Palace. Jon Hyeon Can, Vice-President of the DPRK Commission for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries, and Ding Wei, Assistant Minister, signed "the Implemental Plan for Cultural Exchanges between the Chinese and DPRK Governments for 2006-2008" on behalf of their respective governments.

2. Exchanges of art troupes

The Chinese Government attaches high importance to the dispatch of art troupes to DPRK to attend the art festival. Every year, items on the program are meticulously selected for sending a Chinese art troupe to attend the DPRK "Spring of the April" Friendship Art Festival, and become a shining point in the festival and are very popular among the DPRK masses. The Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble, the Shanghai Ballet Troupe, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the China Symphony Orchestra, and the Song and Dance Ensemble of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army have visited the DPRK for many times, each time there has been hearty response from the audience. DPRK also sends art troupes to attend art festival held in China. The DPRK Man Su Tai Art Troupe, "Flower Girl" Art Troupe, "Sea of Blood" Song and Dance Ensemble, the DPRK National Song and Dance Ensemble, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Pyongyang Students and Children Art Troupe have visited China for many times to give performances which are warmly welcomed by the Chinese audience.

Kim Jong Il has watched the performances of the Chinese Art Troupes, praising the performances of the Chinese Art Troupes as "distinct and novel", "having many artistic technigues". Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and other Chinese leaders have also watched the performances of the DPRK art troupes and given high appraisal to the performances.

3. Exchanges of visits by acrobatic troupes

The DPRK Acrobatic Troupe has successively won reputation in the world arena of acrobatics for its superb performances, especially the high degree of difficulty in the trapeze show. Its performances are warmly welcomed by the Chinese audience. The DPRK Acrobatic Troupe has for many times participated in the Wuqiao International Acrobatic Festival and the Wuhan International Acrobatic Festival held in China and has scored great achievements, and the item of "Great Trapezer" was awarded gold medal for many times.

The Chinese Acrobatic Troupe joins the Chinese Art Troupe to give performances for the "Spring of the April" Art Festival held in DPRK annually. Its performances are popular among the DPRK public and have been awarded gold or silver medals for many times. In 2004, the Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe selected some performers to join the Chinese Art Troupe which accompanied Comrade Li Changchun for a visit to DPRK. The performers gave a special show for Comrade Kim Jong Il. The items of "Playing Diabolo" and "Silk Hanging" of the troupe were highly praised by Kim Jong Il.

4. Exhibitions mounted mutually between the two countries.

For many years, exhibitions have been mounted frequently between China and the DPRK. The art exhibitions held by China in DPRK include the Exhibition of Chinese Arts and Crafts, the Exhibition of the Chinese Oil Paintings, the Exhibition of Chinese Embroidery, Exhibition of Chinese Watercolour Paintings, the Exhibition of the Works of Middle-age and Young Painters and the Exhibition of Paintings Collected in the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. The art exhibitions held by DPRK in China include the Exhibition of DPRK Arts and Crafts, the Exhibition of the Works of Kim Il Sung and Photos about His Revolutionary Activities, the Photo Exhibition about the 35th Anniversary of the Establishment of the DPRK, the Photo Exhibition about the 40th anniversary of the Establishment of the WPK and the Exhibition of Pictures and Arts and Crafts about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

5. Exchanges between health institutions.

The Chinese Ministry of Health and the DPRK Ministry of Health have regularly signed the implemental plan for the cooperation between the PRC and the DPRK on health. In accordance with the plan, the two countries carry out exchanges and mutual help in the field of health and medical treatment and send government delegations to visit each other every other year.

. From October 16 to 18, 2006, Gao Qiang, Chinese Minister of Health, led a Chinese Ministry of Health delegation to pay a visit to the DPRK. He signed with Choe Chang Jik,DPRK Minister of Health, an implemental plan for cooperation between China and the DPRK on health and paid a call on Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

6. Exchanges between sport institutions.

The Chinese State Physical Culture Administration and the DPRK Physical Culture Guiding Commission have on a regular basis signed an implemental plan for exchanges between China and the DPRK on physical culture. In accordance with the plan, China and DPRK exchange dozens of sport delegations every year.

From September 26 to 29, 2006, a five-person Chinese Sport delegation headed by Xiao Tian, Deputy Director of the State Physical Culture Administration, paid a visit to the DPRK. He signed with the DPRK Physical Culture Guiding Commission the Implemental Plan for the exchanges between the PRC and the DPRK on Physical Culture for 2007.

7. Exchanges between other departments.

In accordance with the "Implemental Plan for Cultural Exchanges between the PRC and the DPRK", the two countries have sent delegations for extensive exchanges and visits between such departments as publication, broadcasting, movie, cultural relics and museum. The number of people involved in such mutual visits has reached several hundreds.

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