China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. National Geographic Society (NGS) and venture capital organization International Data Group (IDG) to promote the Chinese culture and cultural exchanges between the two countries on Wednesday at NGS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Under the MOU, the NGS and the IDG will hold various photo exhibitions in both countries on regular and irregular basis. The exhibitions will be themed on China by leveraging NGS's large photo library such as the centennial collection of photographs on China.
NGS will use its digital networks, television channels to publicize natural Chinese scenery, history, culture, humanities as well as technology, and cooperate with leading TV programs in China for production and exchange.
NGS will also cooperate with IDG and noted Chinese scenic spots, such as Mount Huang in Anhui province and Zhangjiajie Global Geopark in Hunan province, to set up more world-class 3D theaters in these tourist attractions, and make qualified films with preeminent filmmakers all over the world to attract more foreign visitors to China.
In addition to enhance cooperation in the area of museums between China and the US, the NGS will organize more National Geographic branded China-themed museum exhibitions based on its experience in successfully hosting the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses exhibits.
IDG will assist NGS in its efforts to digitize its image library. This is expected to begin with images on China to present China's brilliant civilizations to the world through a fresh, unique perspective.
Guo Weimin, vice minister of the SCIO, Terry Adamson, executive vice president of the NGS, and Xiong Xiaoge, executive vice president of the IDG all attended the signing ceremony.
Guo Weimin told American journalists that more and more Chinese and Americans travelled or engaged in trade in each other’s country. In this case, it is very important to strengthen mutual understanding.
"It (the new deal) is an important achievement in the field of mutual cultural exchange on the eve of President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the US. It will promote the mutual communication and understanding between Chinese and Americans,” Guo said.
Terry Adamson said the NGS kept good cooperation with China for more than 100 years. So far, more than 300 articles related to China have been published in their magazine. They also provided $7.7 million USD of funding, focusing on all kinds of study and research in China.