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“The Transcultura project arrives at the precise moment when, from the point of view of culture, it turns out to be achievable. “

Umberto Eco

EU-CHINA HIGH LEVEL CULTURAL FORUM

A unique initiative

On the occasion of the 12th EU-China summit held in Nanjing on November 30, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed the creation of a high-level cultural forum.

The first edition of the forum, organized by the European Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Culture, under the scientific direction of the International Transcultura Institute, took place on October 6 and 7 in Brussels (www.euchinaculturalforum.com).

Bringing together leading intellectuals from both parties, this forum was, according to Wen Jiabao and Jose Manuel Barroso who opened the meeting, one of the important events of the 13th EU-China summit in Brussels.

The scientific direction of the forum has been entrusted by the Chinese government to the International Transcultura Institute.

“May the reciprocity of cultures be a basis for political and economic cooperation. “

Zhao Tingyang

Important issues

The forum is thus conceived as a fundamental dialogue on the ancestral values ​​of the two civilizations, their models of society, their models of knowledge, epistemological, ethical, and aesthetic, open to the future, and taking note of the transformations of the world.

Its vocation is to bring together the most eminent and influential thinkers from both Chinese and European cultural and social scenes to reflect, in a transcultural approach, on what could find an alliance of Euro-Chinese civilization.

A free, open, equal to equal meeting is a way for everyone to progress in areas where traditional political dialogues do not or no longer allow progress.

Culture at the service of a political initiative:

This is an unprecedented opportunity for Europeans to interact with the Chinese on their own political system, it is about going beyond formal or institutional discussions and getting into substance.

The 2011 & 2012 Forums

Following the success of this first 2010 forum, the Chinese Ministry of Culture again entrusted Transcultura with the organization of the 2 ° and 3 ° Euro-Chinese Cultural Forums, in 2011 in the Forbidden City of Beijing, and in 2012 in Louvre.

It is agreed, with the Chinese side, that the theme for 2011 will be town planning: offering a real, very concrete worksite, making it possible to “invent” new models for the common future, and open to questions of organization. political and social.

The select organizing committee of the forum also received the support and interest of the architect and town planner Rem Koolhaas, participant of the 2010 Forum, and now very involved in the organization of the project.

Continuity and Evolution

The future and success of this forum will depend both on its ability to provide continuity and on the prospects for renewal.

Thus for the 2011 and 2012 editions, the formulas envisaged are changing: personalities have expressed their interest in the project, foundations, grandes écoles or even major museums have also wished to make their contribution: Rem Koolhaas, Jean-Pierre Raffarin’s Foresight and Innovation Foundation, the Centrale-Lyon school and the Louvre museum, to name a few. By bringing their dynamism, these new prestigious partners make it possible to attract attention and new interest to the issues of the forum.

The renewed confidence in the methodology acquired over the years of existence of the Transcultura Institute represents, for its part, the desired continuity for the forum.

Davos of Culture

Conceived, in certain respects, as a “Davos of Culture”, the project is called upon to be perpetuated and to take the form of a series of annual meetings which could take place alternately in China and in Europe. A real issue for the political and cultural future.