HONG KONG – The Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum+ 2025, hosted by Hong Kong, concluded successfully on Wednesday, fully demonstrating the city’s role as a "super-connector" and East-meets-West center for cultural exchange.
Themed "Connect, Create, Engage: Bridging Cultures for All", the two-day forum gathered cultural ministers and senior officials from a record-high number of 17 countries to exchange views on strategies in promoting arts and cultural development.
Five of the countries, including Belt and Road countries from outside Asia, participated in the forum for the first time.
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Cultural ministers and senior officials participated in the forum’s key session, the Ministerial Panel, on Tuesday where Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Gao Zheng delivered a speech and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui delivered the opening address.
Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Raistlin Lau Chun highlighted the forum’s significance since its launch in 2003, describing it as a vital platform for cultural interaction.
Noting that this year’s forum marks a record high in terms of participating regions, he said, “For the first time in the forum’s history, we have added a plus sign to the 2025 edition, by inviting countries beyond Asia to participate.”
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“We hope that with broader participation, we can gain more insights, not only from Asian economies but also from other parts of the world.”
Lau also outlined the forum’s role in promoting global cultural developments and exploring opportunities for collaboration, adding that guided tours were arranged for delegates to experience Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural landscape.
“We hope they can become ambassadors for promoting the culture of Hong Kong, and also China, to the rest of the world,” he added.
Participating in the event, Slovakia’s Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová expressed her optimism about forging new connections while in Hong Kong. “My expectation is to see your culture, which is completely different from the culture of Slovakia, and I would like to show Slovak culture.”
She also invited Hong Kong residents to visit her country for longer stays to explore its historical buildings and rich nature.
“Hong Kong’s culture is exciting for me. It is a mix of old and new together, and I love the energy of your arts and the beauty of your heritage,” she added. “It shows deep respect for tradition, which is very important to me.”
Dongguan Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Deputy Director Wu Shaowen expressed hope for leveraging the strong relationship between Dongguan and Hong Kong to keep up with global cultural developments.
Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki hosted a gala dinner for the delegates, who enjoyed performances by local musicians showcasing a blend of Chinese and Western traditional and contemporary music, offering a glimpse into Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse arts and culture scene.
The participating delegations joined a plenary session on Wednesday, discussing how the establishment of platforms and promotion of community engagement facilitate the development of arts and cultural scene and ecology and the benefits of wider public engagement in arts and cultural activities.
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The delegations visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum to gain first-hand knowledge of the latest development of the West Kowloon Cultural District and visit the special exhibition "The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries".
