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2025 Asia–Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum Opens in Edinburgh, Building a New Platform for China–Europe Cultural Exchange
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10th August 2025
Against the backdrop of global civilisational exchange and the digital technology revolution, international cultural and artistic cooperation is entering a new stage of strategic development. In active response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and to promote comprehensive and in-depth cultural and artistic collaboration between China and Europe, the 2025 Asia–Europe Culture & Arts Development Forum was grandly inaugurated on the morning of 10th August 2025 (local time) at St. Leonard’s Hall in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Jointly initiated and organised by leading cultural institutions and universities from China and Europe, the forum aims to build a new bridge for people-to-people cultural and artistic cooperation, and to create a new landscape for Asia–Europe cultural exchange and industrial collaboration.
The forum was jointly organised by the China Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation (CECCI), the College of Dance of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and the School of Arts & Communication， Beijing Normal University. It was co-organised by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Committee and the Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, with strong support from nearly 30 cultural organisations and art institutions both in China and abroad, including the Edinburgh City Council, the Hangzhou Municipal Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, and Zhejiang Dafeng Industry Co., Ltd.
Nearly a hundred representatives from more than 20 countries, including China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, gathered for the event, representing the political, business, cultural, artistic, and academic sectors. They engaged in in-depth discussions on key topics such as international cultural and artistic exchange, Asia–Europe cultural market mechanisms, and cross-cultural development trends, aiming to establish a high-level dialogue platform and a pragmatic cooperation mechanism for China–Europe and Asia–Europe cultural collaboration.
Amy McNeese-Mechan, Councillor of the City of Edinburgh, delivered the welcoming address, extending warm greetings to all participants and highly praising the significance of holding this forum during the Edinburgh Festival. Following the opening, several distinguished experts and industry leaders gave keynote speeches. Professor Zhou Bei, Deputy Dean of the College of Dance at the Shanghai Theatre Academy; Dr Wendy Timmon, of the Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh; and Stephen Gaughan, Head of the Scotland Office of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA), provided academic insights into the current landscape and future pathways of international cultural and artistic exchange. Industry representatives, including Angela Kwon, Head of K-Season Korea, Dafeng Culture, and C Theatre (UK), shared successful Asia–Europe cultural market cases and collaborative models. Lilan, Chair of the Scottish Traditional Dance Forum, and Madeline, Principal Artist of the Scottish Ballet, also spoke from a practitioner’s perspective, discussing trends and experiences in cross-cultural artistic integration.
During the forum, Professor Nie Wei, Vice President of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, together with representatives from the Edinburgh City Council, the University of Edinburgh, the International Dance Teachers Association, and the China–Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation, jointly unveiled the plaque for the “Shanghai Theatre Academy Arts Practice Base (Edinburgh)”.
At the same ceremony, Bryson Xue, Head of the China Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation, and representatives from Dafeng Theatre Chain launched the “Dafeng Theatre Chain – China Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation Edinburgh Repertoire Selection Base”. The Asia–Europe Theatre Alliance was also officially announced.
The establishment of these three institutional platforms marks a significant milestone in talent development, resource sharing, and market connectivity between China, Europe, and Asia, laying a sustainable framework for regional cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
The morning session concluded in a constructive and enthusiastic atmosphere. Participants unanimously agreed that the forum had established a high-level, institutionalised model for people-to-people cultural exchange between China, Europe, and Asia, injecting strong momentum into the development of cultural cooperation under the Belt and Road framework.
图片及内容版权归CECCI所有，如发现侵权或盗用行为将追究法律责任
All images and content are the property of CECCI. Any unauthorised use or infringement will result in legal action.
