Beijing Cultural & Creative Industry Expo opens

The International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo opens on Wednesday in Beijing. Now in its 4th year, the Expo has taken on a new task: to revive the economy by developing the cultural and creative industry.

These women are making Cloisonne following a tradition that has been going on for more than seven centuries. Cloisonne is a labor-intensive craft involving a complex multi-step enamel process. Each piece is handmade with elaborate effort.

Guo Jinghua, craftswoman of Beijing Enamel Factory, said, "I've been working at this workshop for more than 20 years. Usually, one piece takes nearly three month to finish. In our workshop, there are more than 300 craftsmen. They are divided into seven groups for the seven processes. Four artists are in charge of the design. We also accept special orders and produce pieces according to customers' design. Sales are very good both in and outside of China. More and more people are learning and falling in love with the traditional art."

One major topic under discussion at this year's expo is how to insert China's rich traditional folk art into a modern marketplace. Innovative ideas are needed to keep the cultural legacy moving forward.

The Cultural and Creative sector has been a new growth industry around the world. According to UN's statistics, it makes up 7 percent of global GDP and increases by 10 percent annually. It is currently regarded as the most active element of economic development and is expected to have the biggest impact in helping the economy recover after the global financial crisis.

The scale of the 2009 expo is the event's largest ever thanks to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the General Administration of Press and Publication, and the Beijing Municipal Government.

Nearly 100 activities will be held during the five-day event. They include exhibitions, forums, trade promotions, and performances. Along with the main location at the China International Exhibition Center, there are various sub-venues around Beijing.