Joly promotes Canadian culture in China

Minister of Canadian Heritage Melanie Joly participated in a meeting with various cultural stakeholders and businessmen from Canada and China at a reception co-hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai on Jan 12.

Joly is the first Minister of Canadian Heritage to visit China in 12 years.

During her speech, Joly underscored the importance of increasing peopleexchanges, improving economic relationships and developing greater cooperation between the creators and cultural industries in both countries in order to innovate and be successful on the international stage.

“Our Government understands the importance of giving Canadian creators and cultural entrepreneurs every chance to seize opportunities provided by international markets and audiences, and we see tremendous opportunity in China,” said Joly.

She also indicated that she had participated in the launch of a Canadian cultural and creative industry advisory group in Shanghai which comprised representatives from Canadian companies with a presence in the Chinese market.

Joly added that this group will convene on a regular basis to offer the government insight and practical experience regarding opportunities for the Canadian creative sector. This input, she said, will be instrumental as the Canadian government considers carrying out a cultural trade mission in China in the future as part of Canada’s Creative Export Strategy.

According to Joly, the first meeting of the advisory group had set the stage for future discussions on how best to expand the reach of Canadian artists and cultural industries internationally and support emerging Canadian creative businesses hoping to penetrate the Chinese market.

She also noted that she is looking forward to returning to China in 2018 to nurture Canada’s cultural and economic relationship with the Chinese and help pave the way for more Canadian creative exports.

“Our goal is to enable and support Canadian creators and cultural entrepreneurs to increase their competitive position on the international stage, ensure their sustainability and by extension, contribute directly to Canada’s overall economic and social prosperity,” said Joly.