Cultural diplomacy
According to experts, in the context of deepening US-China competition and shrinking opportunities for cooperation, cultural and artistic exchanges have become one of the important diplomatic bridges. These exchanges, although reduced in recent years, could serve as a basis for building trust and partially mending the rift between the two leading rivals, according to the South China Morning Post .
An example of "soft diplomacy" between the two countries is a large-scale exhibition in San Francisco (USA), organized by the Hubei Provincial Museum ( China ), showcasing more than 150 Chinese Bronze Age artifacts. Some of these artifacts had never been displayed outside of China.
The artifacts are on display at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is dedicating approximately 3,000 square meters to exhibiting archaeological findings from the Zhou Dynasty, which reigned from 1050 to 256 BC. The artifacts will be on display at the museum until July. Jay Xu, the museum's executive director, said the exhibition comes at a time when promoting cultural exchange between China and the United States is "extremely important." He added that the participation and reception from government officials reflects the importance of the event as an opportunity for connection and increased mutual understanding.
Emily Wilcox, associate professor of Chinese studies at William & Mary University (USA), said that both superpowers have a long history of considering cultural and artistic exchanges as part of their foreign policy. These exchanges can take the form of government-sponsored exchanges or exchanges with individuals and non-governmental organizations.
Overcoming obstacles
Professor emeritus Gao Minglu of the University of Pittsburgh (USA) said that Sino-American cultural exchange began in the 1970s when the Boston Museum of Fine Arts brought its collections to Beijing. He said that was the first time Chinese people had seen original Western artworks and it inspired a new generation of artists in China.
Visitors view Chinese artifacts at a museum in San Francisco.
Cultural exchanges between the two countries boomed in the 1990s but stalled from 2008, partly due to the economic crisis and later, “skepticism about globalism.” There haven’t been many Chinese art exhibitions held in the U.S. in the past 15 years, Gao said. He argued that exchanges can overcome political and economic tensions, as “art is a unique way of thinking that can bridge cultural and political gaps.”
Sharing this view, Wilcox argued that cultural exchange between two rival countries could open opportunities for people from two different backgrounds to learn from each other. Art addresses a wide range of topics, from everyday material life to personal hopes and dreams – topics that can open areas of dialogue and “bridges of imagination” that might be difficult to achieve through traditional diplomacy, she said.
Besides showcasing and exchanging artistic products, China and the United States are also joining forces to combat the theft and illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts. In January, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China announced the renewal of a memorandum of understanding on combating the smuggling of cultural artifacts, which the two countries first signed in 2009, according to China Daily .
This memorandum will serve as guidance for U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in controlling the import of ancient documents from China. Between 2009 and 2023, a total of 504 Chinese cultural artifacts were returned to Beijing by the U.S. The Chinese heritage administration said that extending the agreement for another five years is a practical step toward expanding cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S., a goal emphasized by leaders of both countries.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-noi-hiem-hoi-my-trung-giua-muon-trung-cang-thang-185240609012507507.htm
