Armenia, China sign agreement on 4-year cultural project

Armenia's Cultural Minister Hasmik Poghosyan and Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong signed an agreement here Friday on a bilateral cultural cooperation program for 2017-2020.

The program blueprints cooperation aimed at the preservation of cultural traditions in the spheres of museums, theaters, music, dances, literature and cinema, as well as partnership in cultural events under the theme of the Silk Road, culture days, preservation of cultural heritage and also in the areas of maintenance and reconstruction of historic monuments.

The agreement follows a previous bilateral cultural program signed for 2012-2016.

Following the official ceremony, Hasmik Poghosyan and Tian Erlong held a joint press conference to talk about the current state of cultural cooperation between the two countries.

"Cultural cooperation is an integral part of the relations between the two countries as we both have ancient cultures. In recent years cultural relations between Armenia and China have been developing in all areas," said Tian, adding the third "Days of Chinese Culture in Armenia" event is held in Armenia from June 9 to 14.

"Cultural relations between Armenia and China keep on developing. The signing of this agreement is a testament to the fact that China is a country with whom we can trust and cooperate," said Hasmik Poghosyan.

He said that apart from the signed agreement, the institutionalization of the cultural relations was also important, referring to the Confucius Institute in Armenia and the recent opening of a new Chinese school in Armenia.

The concert of the China Song and Dance Ensemble of people with disabilities at the House of Opera and Ballet of Yerevan will mark the official opening ceremony of the event.

In the frameworks of this project, an exhibition of Chinese embroidery products dubbed "Elegant Chinese Embroidery" will also be held in the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum. Endit