Turkey prepares to host Chinese culture in 2012

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The representatives of Chinese culture will host various events, in the fields of literature, art, cultural heritage, puppet, acrobatics and more.

China Culture Year will be celebrated in 2012 with events beginning in the capital Ankara on Dec. 12 and continuing across the country. China will exchange the goodwill by hosting a Turkey Culture Year in 2013, according to the Culture and Tourism Minister.

“The China Culture Year will be launched with an art exhibition at the Cer Modern Gallery, in Ankara. A music and dance exhibition will follow the art exhibition’s inauguration,” Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay said at a press conference at Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace on Dec. 3. Throughout the year, Turks will see traditional Chinese music, dance and opera performances along with lots of other events, he added.

“Hundreds of ancient Chinese artifacts will also be displayed at Topkapı Palace Museum and Chinese orchestras will perform concerts. There will also be a Chinese film week,” he said.

The representatives of Chinese culture will also host various events, in the fields of literature, art, cultural heritage, puppet, acrobatics and more, in other cities. These include Istanbul, İzmir, northwestern city of Bursa, Black Sea city of Trabzon and southern cities of Antalya and Mersin.

Deep relations

Günay said what he saw in Shanghai during a visit in 2010 impressed him much and China was a very magnificent and exciting country. The idea to celebrate the China Culture Year in Turkey in 2012 was forged during this visit, he added. China was one of the oldest civilizations in the world, he said.

“The world’s eye turned to the U.S. during the second half of 20th century. Probably, the world is focusing on China in the first half of 21st century. China is becoming a very special model for the world thanks to its development in trade, art and industry.”

Turkey and China had deep relations, Günay said, adding that China is a focus of interest for the world in its own geography and similarly, Turkey is in the Asia Minor geography. “In this way, two old civilizations are rising again at the same time in the world.”

Silk Road reopens

After China, the world’s second largest Chinese porcelain collection was at the Topkapı Palace Museum and they were planning to reorganize to exhibit them in special venues, Günay said. They would also take Turkey’s porcelain to China for exhibition next year and China’s famous Terracota Army would be brought to Turkey for exhibition, he added. Günay said there were many artifacts illegally brought to European museums from Turkish land, but items from China were totally brought as part of trade relations or as gifts.

“The number of Chinese tourists in Turkey is gradually increasing. I highly recommend Turkish people to see China,” ünay said.

People Republic of China Ambassador to Ankara Gong Xiaosheng said the China Culture Year in Turkey was a very important event for the promotion and celebration of both countries’ culture. The history of both countries dated back to 2,000 years ago, he said, adding that the event would improve mutual relations between the two countries. “We will revive the historic Silk Road again,” Xiaosheng said.