Embracing Tradition and Innovation for Cultural Prosperity: Launch Ceremony of the 3rd Festival of China Culture and the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture

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On 25 and 26 November, 2024, the launch ceremony for the 3rd Festival of China Culture and the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture took place at the E34 Cultural Building of UM. The Festival was created and organized to promote the outstanding traditions of Chinese culture, enhance the sense of patriotism and love for Macao within the academic and social communities, and foster a positive atmosphere for the inheritance of Chinese culture in Macau.

This year’s cultural festival is hosted by the University of Macau and supported by the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Central Government’s Liaison Office in Macau, the Cultural and Tourism Department of Henan Province, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, the Macau Foundation, the General Association of Chinese Culture in Macau, and the Henan Provincial Museum of Literature and History. The collaboration units include the Think Tank of United Citizens, Macau University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Chinese Culture at City University of Macau, the Macau Institute of Sino-Western Innovation, the Association of Chinese Excellent Traditional Culture in Macau, and Macao Base for Primary and Secondary Education in Humanities and Social Sciences.

Prof. Mok Kai Meng, Vice Rector of UM, delivered a welcome speech at the event, stating that the success of the previous two Festival of Chinese Culture provided valuable opportunities to deepen cultural exchange and promote academic prosperity. He emphasized that the festival successfully established a platform to showcase the charm of Chinese culture and expressed confidence that this year’s festival would achieve even more fruitful results, contributing new strength to the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. He also highlighted that the Macao Forum for Chinese Culture would leverage Macao’s unique position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, focusing on the theme “Macao Culture and Modern Chinese Civilization,” and inviting numerous experts and scholars from various fields to gather and share ideas, which would inject new vitality into the promotion of Chinese culture.

After Prof. Mok’s speech, Prof. Xu Jie, Dean of the FAH of UM, announced the official opening of the launch ceremony for the 3rd Festival of China Culture and the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture.

Mr. Chen Zongxin, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Yunfu Municipal Committee of the Communist Party, mentioned in his speech that this event marks the return of Yunfu culture to the University of Macau following the presentation of the “Southern Lychee Leaves” art exhibition at the 2nd Festival of China Culture in 2023. He pointed out that the cultural integration between Yunfu and Macao strengthens the cultural ties between the two places.

Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of UM, stated that thanks to the broad support from various sectors of society, previous festivals have been very successful and have achieved significant results. Through collaboration with government agencies from provinces such as Guangdong, Henan, and Jiangsu, the festival has promoted the development of more regionally distinctive traditional cultures. He also expressed the commitment to making the Macao Forum for Chinese Culture a more culturally meaningful and academically influential platform, with the hope that it would gather wisdom from various sources and integrate outstanding achievements from different fields, allowing culture to be promoted and inherited through sharing and learning.

Liu Chan, President of the Liu Haisu International Art Research Association, and Meng Na, President of the European New Immigrant Chinese Writers Association, extended their congratulations online for the launch of the Festival of China Culture and Macao Forum for China Culture. Ms. Meng Na remarked that the festival and forum hold particular significance in the current era and also possess profound historical meaning, serving as a vivid portrayal of the Chinese heart and the spirit of return.

The launch ceremony also included the awarding of the “Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador” supervisory commission certificates, the ambassador appointment ceremony, and the award ceremony for the 2024 “Full Love Macao” short video competition. During the Chinese arts and culture showcase, Ms. Hu Qian performed the Yue Opera “Clothing Covers the World,” and the Macao Mulan Association demonstrated the “Dunhuang Art Fitness routine”. The 3rd Festival of China Culture features nearly one hundred diverse activities, which will continue until December. Everyone is welcome to visit the relevant websites and public accounts to stay updated on the progress of the events.

The 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture was successfully held

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On November 26, 2024, the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture, jointly organized by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau and the Think Tank of United Citizens, was successfully held. This forum coincided with the launch ceremony of the main project of the 3rd Festival of  Chinese Culture of UM. The theme of the forum was “Macao Culture and Chinese Modern Civilization,” aiming to explore the value and contributions of Macao’s traditional culture to modern Chinese civilization.

Chairperson Chen Bingbing of the Think Tank of United Citizens and renowned writer, one of the forum’s initiators, Lu Xinhua, both delivered speeches. Chairperson Chen stated that this forum not only enriches the connotation of Macau as a “cultural base,” but also shapes Macau’s cultural foundation, providing valuable insights for preserving the Chinese cultural context and promoting the creative transformation and development of Chinese culture. This forum serves as both a reflection on past achievements and a vision for future development. Lu Xinhua pointed out that the academic and cultural influence of the forum is the result of collaborative efforts from all sectors. And then, the officiating guests conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The forum was organized into four sessions, each featuring keynote speeches and discussions. Over the course of one day, more than 20 experts and scholars delivered insightful presentations on topics including the influence of Macao culture on modern Chinese civilization, the contributions of Macao culture to contemporary Chinese civilization, Macao literature and culture, as well as modern Chinese literature and culture. Scholars and experts from various fields such as history, philosophy, thought, culture, and literary arts engaged in in-depth discussions, enhancing cultural confidence and promoting cultural heritage. This made the forum a feast of intellectual exchange and academic dialogue.