On October 17th, the Seventh International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage kicked off at International Intangible Cultural Heritage Exposition Park in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province. Wang Zhengwei, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, announced the opening of the festival. Luo Shugang, minister of Culture and Tourism, Yi Li, governor of Sichuan province, and Luo Qiang, mayor of Chengdu, addressed the festival respectively. Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, sent congratulatory video to the event.
Speaking at the festival's opening ceremony, Luo Shugang said the Chinese government has always attached great importance to the conservation of intangible cultural heritage. Through years of practical action, it has become the cultural awareness for the whole nation. The Chinese government actively implements the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the festival is a platform promoting the convention, showcasing colorful intangible cultural heritage from different countries and exchanging cultural protection experience.
Ottone believed that the successful festival will bring intangible cultural heritage to the frontier of global agenda.
Titled “Inherit Brilliant Culture and Relish a Great Life”, this international festival will push forward the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and boost poverty alleviation. Meanwhile, it aims to foster a new prospect of incorporating the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage into the integrated development of culture and tourism. During the festival, one main venue and 28 sub-venues will be set up to host more than 5,600 participants from home and abroad. Besides, more than 540 activities, including international exhibitions, forums, competitions, performances and interactive experiences, will be held during the event.