Günter Titsch speaking at IFCC 2018 © Roger Schmidt

China International Friendship Cities Conference

INTERKULTUR President speaks in China about the importance of international cultural exchange

Günter Titsch

For the 6th time already the “China International Friendship Cities Conference” is taking place in China. Since 2008 the “Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with foreign countries” and the "China International Friendship Cities Association" have been organizing the conference in different Chinese cities, this time in the city of Wuhan from November 14-16, 2018.

This year’s conference takes place according to the slogan “Sharing Development Opportunities and Deepening Win-Win Cooperation” and was opened by the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Qishan. More than 600 participants from 60 countries took part for an exchange of opinions and in order to deepen and cultivate international relations.

As in previous years INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch was invited to participate in the conference with a delegation from Germany. Titsch used the opportunity to present the unifying work of a cultural organization to a huge audience. His speech was part of the theme session “Internationalization – Enhancing Urban International Competitiveness”, where he presented ways of how a modern city could showcase and present to the world its own values, cultural features and individual character through international cultural exchange.

In this context he also highlighted the Chinese “Belt & Road Initiative” and built a bridge to international culture projects:

“In the world we live in, music is vital. And culture worldwide consists of interpersonal relationships. The international cultural exchange by the means of music is – according to our 30 years of experience – one of the best and emotional ways to contribute one’s share to the understanding between nations, harmony and peace worldwide. Peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit are also the idea of ‘The Belt & Road Initiative’ New Silk Road, which the State President of China, Xi Jinping, initiated five years ago.”

According to Titsch, a modern and cosmopolitan city can benefit economically by music and cultural tourism. Titsch ideas of economic promotion and cultural tourism were well received by the highly interested conference participants.

Günter Titsch speaking at IFCC 2018 © Roger Schmidt
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