China's cultural and art sectors should take the people as their focal point and uphold high standards during their activities, according to the nation's cultural development plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period.
The general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, jointly released the national guideline for cultural development on Aug 16. The plan is aimed at promoting socialist culture and building China into a country with a strong grounding in culture and art.
Calling culture the soul of a country, as well as the soul of its national governance, the plan said that without prosperity and development of a socialist culture, there would be no socialist modernization.
China aims to see enhanced social etiquette and civility, a more prosperous cultural industry, a further increase in the appeal of Chinese culture and improvement in its cultural system, according to the goals and tasks set out in the plan.
The 15-chapter document focuses on a wide range of issues, including the development of social sciences with Chinese characteristics, promotion of morals, a more civilized and healthier cyberspace, the creation of literary and art works, and in-depth studies and protection of cultural relics.
Integrated development of culture and tourism, the strengthened protection of intangible cultural heritage and improvement of public cultural services are also listed as key goals in the document.
In a written statement provided by the CPC Central Committee's working group for reform and development of the cultural system, the document will provide ideological guarantees and psychological momentum for the general goal of building a modern socialist country.
"All the development will eventually satisfy people's rising need for cultural life," the statement said. "People's strength can thus be enhanced."
For example, the guideline highlights that a complete network of cultural facilities involving museums, libraries and art galleries will be formed in the next few years to provide stronger support for grassroots communities. Cultural resources will also play a key role in the vitalization of rural areas, and local farmers are encouraged to organize their own art troupes, poetry festivals and exhibitions.
In the digital realm, cultural enterprises are encouraged to adopt approaches that include big data analysis, blockchain and cloud computing in their cultural services, stage performances, films and publications.
The measures will boost the vitality of the cultural industry and bring about social and economic benefits, the statement said.
In the past few years, cultural heritage and archaeology were emphasized in several key central conferences. The new guideline highlights the importance of fulfilling related systems and strengthening work for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the restoring of artifacts and setting a registry system of "national cultural landmarks "based on invaluable cultural relics.
"Cultural relics-related work was given crucial emphasis, and it was also mixed into various chapters of the guideline," said Deng Chao, an official at the National Cultural Heritage Administration. "It's also the first time that cultural relics receive such heavy attention in the general blueprint of the country's five-year plans.
"A mission for the new era is bestowed upon us," he said. "It is an opportunity and precious experience for the whole industry."
The new guideline shows that China will continue to spare no effort for cross-border cultural communication in a community with a shared future for mankind.
The global branding of tourism, international trade of artworks and digitized cultural products, and cooperation of international investment in culture, among others, will be encouraged, the guideline says.
