The Fourth China-Japan-South Korea Ministerial Conference on Culture drew to a close on Monday in Shanghai. The ministers signed a joint action plan to boost cultural exchange between the three countries.

The Shanghai Action Plan calls for stepping up cooperation and exchanges.

Cai Wu, Chinese Culture Minister, said, "We have reached consensus on issues such as choosing East Asia's capital of culture, holding performances and forums, and enhancing cooperation on protection of cultural heritages. We have also discussed paying more attention to protection of intellectual property rights. All of these agreements mean that the cooperation between the three countries has entered into a new phase."

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, as well as the 20th anniversary of China-South Korea diplomatic ties. South Korea and Japan have planned a series of events to boost exchanges.

Choe Kwang-Shik, South Korean Culture, Sports & Tourism Minister, said "We have planned 45 cultural events with China. I hope that the two countries can keep working together on production and sales of TV series, and other cultural products."

Hirofumi Hirano, Japanese Education, Culture, Sports & Tech Minister, said, "In 2014, China, Japan and South Korea will choose one of their cities to hold cultural activities together. And from 2015 to 2017, one city from each country will be chosen each year."

The three-nation culture ministers' conference is an inter-governmental cooperative network. The fifth meeting will be held next year in South Korea.

(CNTV.cn May 9, 2012)