The 4th Nanyang Culture Festival was held in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province on March 28. The festival was organized by Xiamen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and supported by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC). It is the first time that all ASEAN Member States took part in the festival.

Liu Jianchao, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, declared the opening of the Festival. H.E. Ambassadors of Brunei, Laos, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Consuls Generals of ASEAN Member States in Xiamen attended the opening ceremony.

Mayor of Xiamen Liu Keqing and ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang delivered speeches respectively at the opening ceremony. Liu mentioned in his speech the cultural linkage in history between China and ASEAN. He also elaborated on the important role of Xiamen in ASEAN-China cultural exchanges and hoped the Nanyang Cultural Festival will be a platform for cooperation and friendship between ASESN and China.

Secretary-General Ma emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and cooperation in the development of ASEAN-China strategic relationship. He highlighted that the year 2014 is the ASEAN-China cultural exchange year and introduced the ACC's relentless efforts in promoting the mutual understanding and cooperation between ASEAN and China and committed ACC's strong support to the cultural festival.

During the festival, a number of events were organized, including cultural performances by ASEAN and Chinese performance troups, trade fair, food festival and Nanyang Symposium.

(Source: ASEAN-China Centre)