On Thursday 8 October, the Vice Minister of Culture of the People’s Republic of China Ding Wei will arrive in Estonia for official visit. The guest of honour will meet the Minister of Culture of Estonia Indrek Saar, get acquainted with cultural and educational institutions in Tallinn and Tartu and attend cultural events. The Vice Minister will visit Estonia at the invitation of Paavo Nõgene, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture of Estonia.
Minister of Culture Indrek Saar confirmed that cultural bonds between Estonia and China have strengthened to a considerable extent in recent years. “Mutually enriching direct contacts between Estonian and Chinese culture fans have become more frequent. The visit of the Vice Minister Ding Wei takes place at very convenient time - during the Cultural Exchange Project Chinese Music Year in Estonia,” said Saar.
Over the year, Beijing Opera with its big production “Female Generals of Yang Family”, Hongkong Chinese Orchestra, the leading music group of the Metropolis, as well as Chinese folk musicians have visited Estonia. In summer, the wider public was able to enjoy Chinese music culture at Pop Choir Festival in Tartu where two Chinese choirs were among the participants. This week, the most famous Chinese violinist of modern time Dan Zhu will give a concert in Estonia.
Minister Saar added that Estonia’s cultural visit to China will take place soon. “Due to the fact that the recent tour in the cities of China introducing the music of the Baltic States was very popular among Chinese audiences, we can introduce Estonian music culture in the narrower sense this autumn. Estonian National Male Choir, Estonian Dream Big Band and Estonia pianos and Estonian Piano Orchestra will soon travel to Beijing and Shanghai. Participation in the biggest Chinese music fair in Shanghai could open up new possibilities for the piano factory to plant its foot more firmly in Chinese market,” said Saar.
The Minister added that Estonia and China are currently connected by the Cultural Exchange Program for the years 2013-2017 which was concluded between the Ministries of Culture of two countries. “New program period covers also the events of the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. My Chinese colleague is most welcome to visit Tallinn in 2017, in order to sign together the new program until the year 2022,” noted Saar.
The Vice Minister of Culture of China Ding Wei was born in 1956 in Shandong province in China. He has studied at the Beijing International Studies University and supplemented his education at the universities of Great Britain. He has the M.A. degree in Cultural Studies and has also made diplomatic work in Italy and San Marino, Great Britain and USA. Ding Wei has held the position of the Vice Minister of Culture of China since 2013.