China acts to boost culture along with economic belts

A new layout plan for cultural reform and development was issued in May 2017 by the general office of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and the State Council, aiming to enhance the construction of a cultural industrial belt in line with the national development strategies such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the joint development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The plan pointed out that the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period is the critical period for boosting cultural development. Guiding ideology such as socialist core values and the combination of the rule of law and the rule of virtue will be followed firmly, along with innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development in building a strong socialist culture in China and bringing more benefits to people.

The planning also put forward several tasks for reform and development in the cultural industry. Modern communication systems will be gradually set up with the integration of both traditional and emerging media.

According to the document, the positive effects of the cultural market will be given full play to increase cultural sector’s overall strength and competitiveness, which is set to become a pillar in the national economy by the end of 2020. Also, the influence of Chinese culture will continue to spread around the world, increasing the country’s soft power and promoting global cultural diversity.