Photo for illustration (Source: Internet)

The fifth culture ministerial meeting of ASEAN, the fifth culture ministerial meeting of ASEAN-China, Japan, South Korea (10+3), and first ministerial meeting of ASEAN-China (10+1) opened Thursday, May 24^th 2012 in Singapore.

The meetings aim to promote arts and culture, preserve cultural heritage and develop arts and culture industries in the region.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Singapore Minister for Information, Communications and Arts Yaacob Ibrahim said ASEAN has been working hard to expand its cooperation with dialogue partners.

“Over the years, there have been many exchanges between ASEAN and the dialogue partners in the areas of arts, cultural heritage, information and mass media. These helped enhance mutual friendship and understanding,” he said.

During the first meeting of China - ASEAN (10 +1), Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu and his ASEAN counterparts will discuss the establishment of the mechanism of China - ASEAN meetings of culture ministers.

The Chinese minister will also discuss with his counterparts how to further deepen pragmatic cooperation and priority areas of cooperation, and proceed to develop the "10+1 Cultural Cooperation Action Plan" and discuss other issues.

At the meeting of 10+3, Cai will exchange views with his ASEAN, Japanese and South Korean counterparts on expanding areas of cultural cooperation.

Singaore, which hosted the ministerial meeting of ASEAN for the first time, was designated as the ASEAN City of Culture for 2012-13./.