A cultural delegation led by Kim Hong-doo, director of cultural and sports department of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the Republic of Korea, visits Xiamen University. [Photo/xmfo.gov.cn]
Kim Hong-doo, director of cultural and sports department of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the Republic of Korea, led a delegation to Xiamen, Fujian province from April 11 to 12.
The delegation consisted of members from the provincial government and the Jeju Female Family Members Institute.
They visited the female, gender research and training center in Xiamen University (XMU), one of China's top 10 universities, during their stay.
Jiang Yue, deputy director of the XMU center, introduced the center's research fields, achievements and social responsibilities to the delegation.
Lan Daju, XMU's associate professor in anthropology, briefed them on the origin, features and development of the culture of Fujian's Hui'an women, a community of women who fish. They share numerous cultural similarities with Jeju's Haenyeo women.
Haenyeo culture and Fujian's Mazu culture (Mazu is the most influential sea goddess in China) are listed as intangible cultural heritages.
Kim hoped that the Jeju Female Family Members Institute and the XMU center would cooperate in academic research and turn the two entities into a testimony of the good relations between China and ROK.
He also said that cultural exchanges between Fujian and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province have been conducted since the two provinces signed a cooperation memorandum in 2008.
He hoped that more cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces would be carried out in the near future.
The ROK delegation also visited the city's Yundang Academy, which is dedicated to promoting cross-Straits exchanges in traditional culture, to admire south Fujian's tea-making techniques and taste its famous teas.
A cultural delegation led by Kim Hong-doo, director of cultural and sports department of ROK's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, visits Yundang Academy, which is dedicated to promoting cross-Straits exchanges in traditional culture. [Photo/xmfo.gov.cn]
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
