China's culture minister visits Taiwan

Taking an Air China flight from Beijing, Cai, leading a 40-member Chinese cultural delegation, arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport at 11:45 a.m., where he and his delegation were greeted by Chairman Emile Sheng (盛治仁) of the Council for Cultural Affairs.

“While here, I will attend a seminar ... and promote cultural exchanges with Taiwan,” he said on arrival at Taoyuan airport, outside Taipei.

It was the first visit to Taiwan by a Chinese cabinet minister since 1998, when Zhu Lilan, then China's science and technology minister, traveled to the island.

Cai said he is coming to Taiwan at the invitation of the Sheen Chuen-chi Cultural and Educational Foundation to attend the 2010 Cross-strait Culture Forum slated for Sept. 6 in his capacity as member of Beijing's China Friendship Association, and to promote the mainland's cultural exchanges with Taiwan.

The non-profit foundation, founded in 1987 by local business tycoon Sheen Ching-jing in memory of his late father Sheen Chuen-chi, is dedicated to cultural exchanges with the mainland, while the China Friendship Association is a private Chinese group that promotes cultural exchanges between Taiwan and China.

Cai told reporters he was glad to be able to realize his dream of setting foot on the island.

“I felt quite shocked when I laid eyes on this beautiful island from the plane and I'm confident that my visit will be successful,” Cai said, adding that he hopes everyone will do their best to contribute to peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

The upcoming one-day forum, to be held at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel, is the first of its kind to be staged by the Sheen Chuen-chi Cultural and Educational Foundation. It is expected to bring together 140 cultural leaders from both sides of the strait to exchange views on cultural exchanges.

The forum will focus on themes related to cultural creativity, the visual and performing arts, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and community culture and development.

Both Cai and his Taiwanese counterpart Minister Emile Sheng, of the Council for Cultural Affairs, will attend the seminar, but the two are unlikely to explore the possibility of concluding a cultural agreement across the strait, as the two sides are busy with negotiations about issues arising from the ever-growing trade and economic exchanges.

During their stay here, Cai and his delegation will visit cultural institutions, tourist attractions, historic sires, leading enterprises in creative and cultural industries in Taipei, Hsinchu and Tainan cities, among others.

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