Global cities forum kicks off in Hongkou
Over 300 cultural experts and officials from across the world gathered to help boost cultural exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative at an international forum in Shanghai on Thursday.
Under the theme of "mutual appreciation and grand harmony," the 2019 Global Cities Cultural Forum in Hongkou District focused on topics such as community cultures, smart cities, urban revamping and cultural heritage as well as electronic sports.
Experts and government officials from cities such as Abuja, Beersheba, London, Minsk, New York, Singapore, Cairo, Vancouver and Yangon shared knowledge and experiences of their cities' cultural developments.
Uladzimir Prakaptsou, general director with the National Art Museum of Belarus, said China and Belarus have made over a dozen of cultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Cultural cooperation has taken the leading role in Sino-Belarus relations, Prakaptsou said.
Grace Gekpe, permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture of Nigeria, said the China-Africa Forum has helped many once impoverished Nigerian villages become rich and prosperous. Joint projects between the two countries also helped to drive the technological development of Nigeria, such as its television services.
Nigeria aims to preserve its historical cities and heritage skills such as pottery, porcelain and silk, Gekpe said.
Hongkou District, where the forum took place, is known as the birthplace of haipai, or Shanghai's unique East-meet-West culture, Hu Guangjie, director of Hongkou, told the forum.
The district now aims to boost its shipping economy, financial services, 5G network as well as tourism and cultural development, Hu said.