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PCAH Extends Relationship with Chinese Minister of Culture

The dialogue and relationships begun last June by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and Chairman Adair Margo with Chinese cultural officials sparked a recent visit to the United States by Sun Jiazheng, China's minister of culture at the invitation of Chairman Margo. He participated in PCAH's Coming Up Taller ceremony at the White House on January 28th, which made its first award to a Chinese youth arts and humanities group from Shanghai, the Little Companion Art Troupe at the China Welfare Institute's Children's Palace. Following the ceremony, Chairman Margo and Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, served as co-hosts for a luncheon at the Library of Congress in honor of Minister Sun.

China joins Mexico in PCAH’s effort to recognize international youth arts education programs through its Coming Up Taller Award, which Mrs. Laura Bush and Minister Sun Jiazheng (far left) presented to Shanghai’s Little Companion Art Troupe at a White House ceremony.
China joins Mexico in PCAH’s effort to recognize international youth arts education programs through its Coming Up Taller Award, which Mrs. Laura Bush and Minister Sun Jiazheng (far left) presented to Shanghai’s Little Companion Art Troupe at a White House ceremony.

Dr. Billington remarked to the guests that the Library of Congress holds one of the largest collections of Chinese print materials outside China, having received ten works in 933 volumes from Emperor Tongzhi in 1869 as part of an exchange authorized by the Congress. He added that the discussions in China last summer during the PCAH's visit were very fruitful, and he was looking forward to further collaboration on making cultural resources accessible to broader audiences through digital technology.

Minister Sun thanked his hosts, presenting Dr. Billington with an ancient Chinese book that had been reproduced with the latest technology as a facsimile of the original. As a poet, the minister shares with Chairman Margo and Dr. Billington a passion for books. And it was a book that was in part the impetus for the Minister Sun's subsequent visit to Texas. During her visit to China last summer, Chairman Margo presented Minister Sun with parting gift of a rare Saddle Blanket Edition of the King Ranch written and illustrated by Texas author Tom Lea.

The importance of cultural understanding and collaboration that had been sparked by the recent PCAH delegation to China was the focus of remarks at the Library of Congress by James Billington, Librarian of Congress, and Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng.
The importance of cultural understanding and collaboration that had been sparked by the recent PCAH delegation to China was the focus of remarks at the Library of Congress by James Billington, Librarian of Congress, and Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng.

"Tom Lea's writings and paintings were largely inspired by his deep love for and connection to our shared hometown of El Paso, Texas. I believe by sharing what we love draws us closer together, and artists such Tom Lea can help others understand our country and its culture," said Margo.

Minister Sun expressed his wish that he wanted to see more of the U.S. since his travel rarely extended beyond Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, DC and Chairman Margo's response, "I took that to heart, so when we returned from our trip, we started to put our heads together. We had already invited him to Washington, but then we decided to extend the visit to Texas."

Minister of China Sun Jiazheng center) joins local re-enactors in celebrating the western heritage. PCAH Chairman Adair Margo had invited the Minister to experience of the U.S. as part of PCAH’s cultural diplomacy efforts.
Minister of China Sun Jiazheng center) joins local re-enactors in celebrating the western heritage. PCAH Chairman Adair Margo had invited the Minister to experience of the U.S. as part of PCAH’s cultural diplomacy efforts.

She accompanied Minister Sun to the King Ranch outside Corpus Christi and then on El Paso where he gave a presentation to some 400 people at the El Paso Museum of Art. To the crowd at the museum he reported favorably on his visit saying "El Paso is a city of friendship and harmony and it's also full of art. I see the cultural diversity here, with very distinctive features of Mexico's influence."

The PCAH continues to pursue opportunities for broadening cultural ties with China and the Ministry of Culture. Under PCAH leadership a series of diverse projects are under development by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. China's participation in the The Library of Congress' World Digital Library project is one tangible result of PCAH's cultural diplomacy efforts. The President's committee is also continuing its commitment to recognize Chinese youth arts and humanities programs through Coming Up Taller. Finally, a multi-year partnership between PCAH and Arts Midwest will support tours of diverse Chinese performing arts programs fro U.S. audiences.

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Chinese Minister of Culture Celebrated at Library of Congress Luncheon