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How best to improve culture industry

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-30 08:50

The State Council recently adopted a plan on the development of cultural industries with an eye to introducing market players, promoting competitiveness and enhancing GDP growth. We cannot expect overnight success. Much needs to be done to create favorable environment for further development, says an article in Changjiang Daily. Excerpt:

In the post-Cold War era, the cultural industry, increasing at an annual rate of 11.3 percent, has become a component of the world economy. Added value created by cultural industries generally accounts for more than 10 percent of GDP in advanced countries - 12 percent in the US and 17 percent in Japan. In contrast, China's cultural industry has a growth rate of just 3 percent.

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Despite its large-scale development for more than 10 years, China's cultural industry still has its share of problems. Take TV programs for example.

Chinese producers have rarely succeeded in creating competitive programs that can gain with worldwide popularity. Many of the programs remain monotonous and stereotyped.

Now the country has made it its new strategic industry. But we cannot expect overnight success. On one hand, the cultural industry depends highly on the prosperity of a nation's culture. We have to take steps to boost Chinese culture instead of merely focusing on updating communication technologies. On the other hand, we should always keep in mind the industry's primary purpose of improving people's living standards.

Cultural products are in essence the work of minds. As a result, we should foster open-minded environment for further development of the industry.

(China Daily 09/30/2009 page9)