From October 10 to 12, Gao Yu, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council (COSC), traveled to Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. He attended the Symposium on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Chinese Opera Culture Among Institutes for Culture and History of 13 Provinces and Municipalities. The Symposium was co-hosted by the Counsellors’ Office of Hebei Provincial People’s Government, Hebei Provincial Institute for Culture and History, and Shijiazhuang Municipal People’s Government. During his visit, Gao also conducted field research on the protection of cultural relics and heritage as well as the development of public cultural services in Zhengding County, Zhaoxian County, and Hebei Museum. Wang Zhengpu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee and Governor of Hebei Province, and Zhang Chaochao, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hebei Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Shijiazhuang Municipal Committee, met with the delegation led by Gao respectively. Dong Zhaowei, Vice Governor of Hebei Province, attended the symposium and accompanied Gao during the research.

Gao Yu, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the COSC, delivers a speech at the Symposium on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Chinese Opera Culture Among Institutes for Culture and History of 13 Provinces and Municipalities

On the morning of October 11, Gao delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium. He emphasized that culture is the soul of a country and a nation. The art of Chinese opera, deeply intertwined with the fortunes of the nation, the evolution of the times, and the lives of the people, is a treasured part of Chinese culture. The national network of institutes for culture and history brings together outstanding talents, including many leading figures in Chinese opera, who have made important contributions to carrying forward traditional opera schools and advancing innovation. He stressed that to promote the flourishing of Chinese opera art, we must earnestly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, fully grasp the overarching theme of national rejuvenation in the new era, remain firmly rooted in the people, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, champion integrity, and foster the fine tradition of pursuing virtue and excellence. We should tell China’s stories well with passion and commitment, and open new horizons for opera art with high-quality masterpieces that resonate with the times. Taking this symposium as an opportunity, he encouraged attendees to learn from one another through exchanges, gain new insights through discussions, and jointly enable Chinese opera art to radiate new splendor in the new era. 

Dong Zhaowei, Vice Governor of Hebei Province, delivers a speech at the Symposium on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Chinese Opera Culture Among Institutes for Culture and History of 13 Provinces and Municipalities

Dong Zhaowei delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium. He noted that Chinese opera boasts a long history and profound cultural significance. As one of the birthplaces of Chinese opera, Hebei is home to 36 local opera genres that remain active on stage, ranking second in China in terms of the number of active local operas. In recent years, Hebei has made significant efforts to promote the creation and performance of operas, talent cultivation, and the exchange and promotion of opera art. These initiatives have ensured the inheritance, protection, and flourishing development of opera culture. “Northern Opera Hometown” has become an important cultural identity of the province. Dong emphasized that the vitality of art lies in communication, exchange and integration. Taking this symposium as an opportunity, Hebei will further enhance exchanges and mutual learning with other provinces and experts, contributing wisdom and strength to advancing the high-quality development of Chinese opera culture.

The delegation led by Gao Yu conducted field research in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang 

The delegation led by Gao Yu conducted field research at the Urban Public Space for Culture & Cultural Masters Studio of Shijiazhuang

The delegation led by Gao Yu conducted field research in Zhaoxian County, Shijiazhuang 

Han Ziyong, Special Research Fellow of the China Central Institute for Culture and History, delivered a keynote speech at the symposium. Responsible officials from institutes for culture and history of 12 provinces and municipalities including Beijing and Shanxi attended the symposium. Wang Zhenhua, Chairman of the Counsellors’ Office of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government; Li Xinjie, Deputy Director-General of the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism; and Zhang Fengzhen, Vice Mayor of Shijiazhuang City, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony of the symposium. Fifteen researchers and special research fellows from local institutes for culture and history shared their insights respectively. Wang Bin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Counsellors’ Office and the Institute for Culture and History of Hebei Provincial People’s Government, presided over the symposium. Zhou Kui, Deputy Secretary-General of Hebei Provincial People’s Government, responsible officials from relevant departments at the provincial, municipal and county levels, and responsible officials from the Culture and History Department of the COSC attended the symposium and participated in the field research.