Editor’s note: Culture is the spiritual lifeline of a nation, and cultural relics are an important carrier and physical witness for the historical and cultural inheritance of a country or a nation. 2022 is an important year for China to enter the new journey of comprehensively building a socialist modernized country and advancing towards the second centenary goal. On the occasion of the National People’s Congress and the National People’s Congress, People’s Daily has launched the “Literature and Art Star Lecture” special edition series of plans for the 2022 two sessions, inviting representatives and members of the cultural and artistic community to provide suggestions and suggestions for the prosperity and development of culture in the new era, and to contribute to the construction of a socialist cultural power.
Li Qun, deputy to the National People’s Congress, vice minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and director of the National Cutural Heritage Administration. Respondent provided pictures
2021 marks the beginning of a new journey for the cultural relics industry towards the 14th Five Year Plan. The “14th Five Year Plan for Cultural Relics Protection and Technological Innovation” has been issued, and the cultural relic plan has been elevated to a national level special plan for the first time; Convening a national conference on revolutionary cultural relics, and continuously deepening the protection and utilization of revolutionary cultural relics; The Sanxingdui Site has awakened and shocked the world again, and major archaeological discoveries have gained worldwide attention; “Quanzhou: the World Marine Trade Center of China in the Song and Yuan Dynasties” was listed in the The World Heritage List, important progress was made in the reform and development of museums and the work of social cultural relics, and significant achievements were made in the protection of Asian cultural heritage and the recovery and return of lost cultural relics… People’s Daily Online interviewed Li Qun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the National Cutural Heritage Administration, and looked forward to the reform and development of cultural relics during the 14th Five Year Plan.
Suggest continuing to increase financial support and strengthen technological innovation in cultural relics protection
People’s Daily: What proposals and suggestions will you bring to the two sessions this year?
Li Qun: What I have brought is a suggestion to continue increasing investment in cultural relics and archaeological work.
In 2021, the central government implemented a special fund of 6.4 billion yuan for national cultural relics protection and arranged a free opening fund of 3 billion yuan for museums and memorials. The scale of financial funds continued to increase, and the efficiency of management and utilization continued to improve. It is recommended to continue increasing investment in cultural relic protection and archaeological work in the future, and to maintain a steady and increasing trend. At the same time, we will also draw on mature domestic and foreign experiences and practices, revise laws and regulations, and introduce policies.By means of documents, encouraging practical exploration, and other means, we will further expand financing channels for cultural relics protection and guide social forces to actively participate in the protection and utilization of cultural relics.
Deeply Implementing the Major Project of “Archaeological China” to Promote the High Quality Development of Museums
People’s Daily: In 2021, remarkable archaeological discoveries were made at the Sanxingdui Site, Piluo Site, and the Mausoleum of Emperor Wen of Han. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, which areas will China’s archaeological work focus on?
Li Qun: In 2021, the National Cutural Heritage Administration released 18 important achievements in the major project of “Archaeological China”, including more than 7 billion times of reading on the Sanxingdui site, more than 1.1 billion times of reading on the Han Emperor’s Mausoleum hegemony, and more than 2 billion times of reading on topics related to the TV program “China Archaeological Conference”, which shows the public’s concern for major archaeological achievements.
During the “14th Five Year Plan” period, the National Cutural Heritage Administration will continue to deepen the project of exploring the origin of Chinese civilization and strengthen the research on the history of Chinese civilization by centering on archaeological demonstration of China’s million year human history, million year cultural history and 5000 year civilization history. Deeply implement the major project of “Archaeological China”, with a focus on projects such as “Research on Xia Culture”, “Research on Settlements and Society in the Hetao Region”, “Research on the Civilization Process in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River”, “Research on the Civilization Model in the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River”, and “Research on the Civilization Process in the Central Plains Region”. Cultivate 5-10 regional and thematic major archaeological projects, and promote 150 archaeological excavation projects in various regions every year. Through important archaeological discoveries and continuous academic research, scientifically explain key issues such as the origin of human beings, the origin of civilization, the formation of Chinese civilization, the establishment and development of a unified multi-ethnic country, and the important position of Chinese civilization in the history of world civilization in China.
People’s Daily: How to further stimulate the vitality of museum development, enable museums to better play the role of public cultural services, and enhance the public’s sense of cultural gain?
Li Qun: Currently, there are 5788 registered museums in China, ranking third in the world. Over 90% of museums are open for free, and they receive over 1 billion visitors annually. The role of museums in meeting social needs and improving national literacy is increasingly evident. During the Spring Festival of the Year of the Tiger, many museums across the country launched a series of cultural activities called “Celebrating the Chinese New Year in Museums”, showcasing the excellent traditional Chinese culture and the core spirit of the Chinese nation, and accompanying the public through a happy and peaceful Spring Festival holiday… The second is to promote coordinated development. Coordinate the regional and urban-rural development of museums, promote the extension of museum resources to the grassroots, rural coverage, and tilt towards remote areas, increase support for museum construction in rural and underdeveloped areas, provide more funding and talent protection for grassroots museums to carry out public cultural services, and promote the equalization, inclusiveness, and convenience of museum public cultural services. The third is to deepen cross-border integration. Implement the “museum+” strategy, promote cross-border integration of museums with education, science and technology, tourism, commerce, media, design, etc., and make museums become a new driving force enabling economic development and boosting industrial upgrading. Develop and implement policies to encourage widespread participation of social forces in museum construction, promote exhibitions, education, and cultural and creative development, and provide diverse museum services to the public. The fourth is to enrich product supply. Strengthen the exploration of the value of collectibles, launch more original themed exhibitions, and continue to plan high-quality programs such as “If National Treasures Speak”, “National Treasures”, and “China National Treasure Conference” to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the people. Build a national level “cloud exhibition” platform to showcase high-quality exhibitions of national first-class museums, vigorously develop cloud exhibitions and cloud education, and build a museum communication system that integrates online and offline. Emphasize the ideological control of cultural and creative products in museums, and continuously improve their quality and connotation.
Give full play to the educational function of revolutionary cultural relics, use high-quality exhibitions to tell the story of China well
People’s Daily: Red resources are scattered throughout the vast land of China. How to better leverage the advantages of revolutionary cultural relics resources?.More than 60000 revolutionary cultural relics, with over 1 million sets in state-owned collections, are precious assets of the Party and the country. The National Cutural Heritage Administration has always attached great importance to the educational function of revolutionary sites and venues. In 2021, to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, we will implement the Centenary Party History Cultural Relics Protection and Exhibition Project, carefully organize revolutionary cultural relics protection, exhibition and inheritance activities, support various regions to launch a batch of important cultural relics exhibitions, fully leverage the unique advantages of red cultural relics resources, and better serve the learning and education of Party history.
Next, we will further strengthen the protection and utilization of revolutionary cultural relics. Firstly, we will strengthen the protection and management of revolutionary cultural relics. Approve and publish the second batch of revolutionary cultural relics list, promote the free opening of a batch of revolutionary museums and memorials, and carry out a special survey of revolutionary cultural relics resources. Promote the preparation of work plans for the protection and utilization of revolutionary cultural relics in the area, and coordinate the implementation of a batch of contiguous protection and overall display projects. Implement the theme protection and exhibition project for revolutionary cultural relics and the protection project for revolutionary cultural relics at or below the provincial level. The second is to increase the promotion and inheritance of revolutionary culture. Focusing closely on the main line of welcoming and promoting the implementation of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we will promote a batch of high-quality exhibitions of revolutionary cultural relics, better showcase the significant achievements and historical experience of the Party’s century long struggle, especially the significant achievements of the Party in cultural construction in the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promote and promote red culture. We will implement the Red Gene Transmission and Inheritance Project, actively serve the learning and education of Party history and the promotion and education of the “Four Histories”, study and determine a group of important landmarks to witness the various periods of revolution, construction, and reform, publish white papers on the protection and utilization of revolutionary cultural relics, and launch the “Three Hundred Collections” micro video of revolutionary cultural relics, allowing cadres and the masses to understand the revolutionary spirit and inherit the red gene from revolutionary cultural relics.
Promoting the integration of cultural heritage into modern life, deepening and expanding international exchanges and cooperation
People’s Daily: In 2021, the 44th World Heritage Conference was successfully held in Fujian, and the Quanzhou project was included in the The World Heritage List. How will cultural heritage be integrated into modern life in the future?.The Great Wall, Grand Canal, the Long March, the Yellow River, and the Yangtze River cultural heritage values, cultural connotations, and the spirit of the times are explained. At the same time, local governments are encouraged to do a good job in the excavation, research, and interpretation of the historical and cultural heritage that carries local nostalgia memories, and take multiple measures to expand the exhibition space of cultural relics buildings and archaeological sites parks. By improving the display signs of cultural relics, improving the supporting facilities of cultural venues, creative design of cultural and creative products Through various forms such as organizing traditional holiday activities, cultural heritage is integrated into modern cultural life in a popular form, and the excellent traditional Chinese culture is continuously promoted.
People’s Daily: What measures will the National Cutural Heritage Administration take to promote cultural relics exchange and cooperation this year?
Li Qun: This year, the National Cutural Heritage Administration will continue to deepen and expand international exchanges and cooperation on cultural heritage with the implementation of the Asian cultural heritage protection action as the core. First, promote cultural heritage cooperation along the “the Belt and Road”. Strengthen top-level design and overall coordination, promote the signing of intergovernmental agreements and departmental agreements on cultural heritage cooperation with more countries to prevent cultural relics smuggling, and continuously expand cooperation in various fields such as historical relics protection and restoration, joint archaeology, exhibition exchanges, and personnel training. The second is to promote the in-depth development of Asian cultural heritage protection actions. Promote the construction of the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance, coordinate the operation of the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Fund, the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Youth Ambassador Program, and other related work. Negotiate and sign a joint statement with more Asian countries on coordinating the “Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Action”. The third is to increase the construction of international communication capacity for cultural heritage. Utilize social resources and forces such as the China Cultural Relics Exchange Association and the China Cultural Relics Protection Foundation to conduct research on the construction of international communication capacity for cultural heritage, explore more effective communication methods, and enrich external publicity channels. With the goal of explaining to the international community the history of exchange and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations around the world, as well as the significant contributions to human civilization, we will strengthen joint archaeology and promote cross-border joint declaration of world heritage sites.
Displaying the charm of the Chinese cultural era and assisting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
People’s Daily: The 14th Five Year Plan period is the first five years of a new journey to comprehensively build a socialist modernized country. What role should cultural relics play in it?
Li Qun: During the 14th Five Year Plan period, drawing wisdom and strength from the Party’s century long struggle, the cultural relics system will promote the high-quality development of cultural relics from a higher starting point, and make positive contributions to building a socialist cultural power and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation..Research, deepen the project of exploring the origin of Chinese civilization, promote the major project of “Archaeological China”, explore the unknown, reveal the origin, interpret cultural genes, shape historical cognition, construct civilization symbols, and showcase the brilliant achievements of Chinese civilization and significant contributions to world civilization.
The second is to grasp the connotation requirements of high-quality development and focus on building a socialist cultural power. Based on the new journey, we need to firmly establish new development concepts, strengthen reform drive, strengthen innovation coordination, vigorously promote innovation in cultural relics technology, system, and theory, continue to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture, and continuously stimulate the vitality of cultural relics development; Actively participate in the green transformation of urban and rural construction, and do a good job in energy conservation and carbon reduction in cultural and museum venues; Gather forces from all parties, strengthen research and management of cultural relics, and solve the problem of imbalanced and insufficient development. We should focus on overall coordination, promote integration and sharing, actively integrate into the strategic deployment of common prosperity, actively link with national major strategies such as rural revitalization, regional coordinated development, Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, actively promote the construction of the Great Wall, Grand Canal, the Long March, and the Yellow River National Cultural Park, promote archaeological excavation, protection and display of large sites, protection of historic and cultural cities, towns and villages, reform and development of museums Integrating social cultural relics and other work into the overall economic and social development, achieving higher quality, fairer, and more sustainable development of cultural relics work.
The third is to grasp the requirements of the times centered around the people and continuously meet the growing needs of the people for a better life. Based on the new journey, we need to improve the public service level of cultural and museum units, further improve the free opening mechanism of museums, optimize the layout of cultural and museum units, especially museums and memorial halls, improve the quality of exhibitions, launch high-quality museum exhibitions, implement the “museum+” strategy, and provide high-quality cultural products. We need to promote the activation and utilization of cultural relics, take multiple measures to improve social participation mechanisms, increase social participation, build national cultural relic protection and utilization demonstration zones, and support innovative cultural relic tourism projects. We need to strengthen interpretation and communication, continue to promote China’s all media communication, deeply implement the “Internet plus+Chinese Civilization” action plan, and promote the excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture of China with rich and vivid value interpretation, accessible publicity and communication, so that cultural relics can show the style of the times, enrich people’s lives, and improve national quality.
The fourth is to grasp the development vision of promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and inject new vitality into cultural exchanges and mutual learning. Based on the new journey, we must actively adapt to the unprecedented changes in the world, deepen cultural exchange and cooperation with foreign countries, carry out substantive cooperation in joint archaeology, high-quality exhibition, and cultural relic recovery and return, actively draw on the outstanding cultural achievements of the world, expand cultural exchange and mutual learning, strengthen content research, production transformation, dissemination and promotion, continuously expand the international influence of Chinese culture, and showcase the true, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China to the world.
(Huang Weiwei Yanxing, Liu Yingying)