Press releases

MINSK, 22 December (BelTA) - A Belarusian cultural center in China will be set up on the premises of the Belarusian Embassy in Beijing in 2016, Belarusian First Deputy Culture Minister Irina Driga said during an online conference “Belarus' draft Code on Culture” on the website of the BelTA News Agency.

“Last week the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus passed a draft law on the ratification of the agreement between Belarus and China on mutual establishment of cultural centers. The law provides for the founding of the Belarusian cultural center in China which will be set up on the premises of the Belarusian Embassy in Beijing,” Irina Driga stressed.

In response the Chinese party will open a Chinese center in Belarus. The goal of such centers is to organize different cultural events such as exhibitions, performances, concerts, film screenings, and provide assistance to the promotion of both languages and cultures through educational activities, opening of libraries, and reading rooms.

According to Irina Driga, the practice of supporting the Belarusians abroad in host countries through cultural centers will be continued. However, the establishment of cultural centers usually involves some financial burden. "The center in Poland was set up quite a long time ago. A business and cultural center was opened in Russia. It plans to introduce, among other things, the Belarusian language courses,” Irina Driga noted.

She informed that in the countries, where no such centers have been created yet, the embassies cooperate with representatives of the Belarusian Diaspora, if they have an interest in such interaction. Over the past years, Belarus has donated the Belarusians living abroad sets of national costumes, methodical literature, audio and video materials, decorative and applied art items, souvenirs and items with the Belarusian symbols, musical instruments, periodicals and other things. The Culture Ministry makes assignments for such practical assistance every year.

Irina Driga added that there are plans to continue the implementation of the state program "Belarusians in the World". “The draft state program "Culture of Belarus" for 2016-2020 provides for the subprogram "Belarusians in the World" which is about cultural, information, educational and other kinds of support,” she said.