The Chinese government adopted on Wednesday a plan to promote the country's cultural industry, which encourages private and foreign capital to flow into the industry.

The plan was discussed and adopted in a meeting of the State Council, or Cabinet, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

A statement of the meeting pointed out, "During the current financial meltdown, the cultural industry's development is significant in meeting with people's cultural needs, expanding domestic demand and consumption and promoting economic restructuring."

"Market access threshold should be lowered to encourage private and foreign capital to enter the cultural fields that the government permits and let them take part in state enterprises' share-holding reform," it said.

More efforts were needed to develop key sectors such as cultural innovation, film production, publication, advertisement, entertainment, exhibition, digital content and animation, it said.

It added that multimedia broadcasting and Web and mobile TV should be actively promoted to upgrade the industry.

Cultural products and services should be improved to adapt to the needs of rural and urban residents, the meeting heard, adding trans-regional integration of cable television network, cinema lines, digital cinemas and publications should be enhanced.

"Government investment in the industry should be increased. More talents should be trained. Taxation and financial policies as well as legal and market environment should be improved to support its development," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)