By Qian Ding, CCTV.com reporter and editor

The China Intangible Cultural Heritage - Arts and Crafts commonweal program launching ceremony and forum were held in Beijing on September 21, which were sponsored by the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Foundation, co-organized by Chinese Arts and Crafts Associations and Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Company. Representatives of Arts and Crafts Associations from 31 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, were in attendance.

China Intangible Cultural Heritage - Arts and Crafts commonweal program launching ceremony was held on Sept. 21 in Beijing.(Photo/ Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Foundation)

The program supports outstanding artists who promote the inheritance of Chinese intangible cultural. After a rigorous selection process, around 10 artists from each of the 34 regions will be awarded as "China Intangible Cultural Heritage craft-man," and winners can present their artworks at the China National Museum and other exhibition halls, while cooperating with companies to market their products and so on. The two most distinguished artists will also receive a reward premium of RMB500,000 (around US$76,000). Under this project, approximately RMB12 million, or some 1.8 million US dollars, will be invested to protect Intangible Cultural Heritage initially and "China Intangible Cultural Inheritance and Development Center" will be established in every province and region nationwide.

China Intangible Cultural Heritage - Arts and Crafts commonweal program forum was held on Sept. 21 in Beijing.(Photo/ Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Foundation)

Representatives introduced the Intangible Cultural Heritage situation in their provinces, municipalities and regions, discussed problems and offered solutions. For instance, Representative from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region said some artists only focus on art, while other artists spend more time on marketing. Accordingly shy artists deserve some help on the marketing side. After an open discussion, representatives made several agreements including the selection process and plan for the near future.

Prominent Chinese artist and representative of Hubei Arts and Crafts Association, Lu Guangrong discusses the program. (Photo/ Qian Ding)

Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" (B&R Initiative) in 2013. As the largest proposed investment project in human history, the Belt & Road Initiative is not only a fantastic aspiration on economic growth, but offer opportunities for better dialogue and cooperation among people. The Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Foundation will organize China Intangible Cultural Heritage world tours annually from 2018 to 2027. Around 200 Chinese Intangible Cultural inheritors will promote their artworks along Belt & Road countries and regions each year. As executive director of Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Foundation, Chen Siguang said, "Chinese intangible cultural inheritors are the cultural messengers of the Belt & Road Initiative, China Intangible Cultural Heritage can be one of the best Chinese gifts for the world."

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